Bessie Glee (Miller) Sonnicksen, 98

Winnebago — Bessie passed away Oct. 27, 2008, at Parker-Oaks in Winnebago. She was born June 5, 1910 to Klyde and Minnie (Bullard) Miller in Winnebago.

Bessie attended Winnebago High School and graduated with the class of 1928 “Onward Ever-Backward Never”.

She married Avery “Ole” Sonnicksen on Jan. 29, 1930 and they had three children. Eleanor Ann“Annie”, married to Gordon Ankeny of Gooding, Idaho, Maurice, married to Joyce Caudle of Winnebago, and Norman “Jack”, married to Barbara Klein of Plymouth, eight grandchildren: Larry Ankeny, Barbara Seaman, Julie Robinson, Jill (Brett) Olson, Douglas Sonnicksen, Deborah (Bruce) McKay, Randy (Paula) Sonnicksen, Bradley (Alice) Sonnicksen, 14 great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

Ole and Bessie farmed for many years in the Winnebago area and Bessie also worked at Stimpson’s Grocery, Fraser’s Drug, and the Super Valu Store. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, always giving of her time and talents, delighting in her involvement at “Next to New”. She loved to garden and always had flowers and vegetables growing every summer. She was happiest when on her hands and knees digging in the dirt, a love she learned from her parents – always giving the fruits of her labor to friends and neighbors.

The Bible was a great source of comfort for her; some favorite passages were the 23rd Psalm, John 3:16, Revelations 21 and Ecclesiastes 3:1-9. Her favorite hymns were “How Great Thou Art”, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” and “Blest Be The Tie That Binds”.

She will be missed by the friends who had dinner together every Sunday at Parker-Oaks. She had a great sense of humor and maintained it right to the end, often saying clever things at the right time and then just smiling. She also loved to play little pranks on people and would deny she had anything to do with it – a trait that was passed on to all of her children.

A memorial service will be held today, Monday, Nov. 3, 2008, at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 129 Main Street North, Winnebago with Reverend Michael Roys officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in rural Winnebago. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Bessie was preceded in death by her parents, husband (Ole 1996), daughter (Eleanor Ann 2007), and one sister (Gladys Kneeland).

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the First Presbyterian Church in Winnebago.

Spencer-Owen Funeral Home of Winnebago was in charge of arrangements.