Bertha Meester

Bertha (Bee) Meester, age 88, Willow Lake, the widow of Joe A. Meester died early Saturday morning, January 5, 2008 in the Parkview Care Center at Bryant where she had resided since December 12. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 11AM in the United Presbyterian Church at Willow Lake with Pastor Jim Uthe officiating. Burial will follow in Collins Cemetery at Willow Lake. Music will be provided by organist JoLayne Symens withe Kevin and Jennifer Meester singing. Casketbearers will be her nine grandsons, Rick Hovde, Kevin, Tim, Jason and Todd Meester, Brett and Nathan Hoffman and Joshua and Cody Symens and honorary casketbearers will be her 13 granddaughters, Debra Rood, Kathryn Rasmussen, Susan Hansen, Lisa Strachota, Kathy LaBay, Pamela Grensberg, Marla Gruber, Kimberly Yungtum, Kristin Feterl, Jennifer Meester, Melissa Soper, Megan Hoffman and Patti Larson. Visitation will be held on Monday from 5-7 PM at the Church in Willow Lake and will continue after 9AM on Tuesday morning in the Church. Bertha (Bee) Meester was born on September 1, 1919, the daughter of Walter and Margaret (Austin) Phillips near Willow Lake. She spent her childhood years in the Willow Lake area and attended country school. On August 13, 1936 she was united in marriage to Joe A. Meester in the Presbyterian Church parsonage in Willow Lake. In 1947 they moved to the Jim Telford farm west of Willow Lake where they farmed until 1954. The couple and family then moved into Willow Lake to the house that has been home to her and her family for the past 54 years. Mr. Meester died June 10, 1999. Bee was a member of the United Presbyterian Church and was active in the Ladies Aid and many other Church functions. Her great loves in life included cooking meals for family and friends, playing cards and bingo, watching the Minnesota Twins, attending basketball games and most importantly was spending time together as family. Grateful for having shared in her life are her seven children, JoAnn Deakyne and husband Don of Minneapolis, MN, Janice Hovde of Willow Lake, Rodell Meester of Sioux Falls, Lyle Meester and wife Arlene of Omaha, NE, Wayne Meester and wife Linda of Watertown, SD, Cindy Hoffman and husband Randy of Madison, SD and Sharon Symens and husband Rick of Willow Lake; 22 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband Joe A, a daughter, Donna Marie, a son-in-law, LeRoy Hovde, five brothers, Albert, Charles, Lester, Leonard and Dick Phillips and sisters, Myrtle Arends and Viola Whitted. Services are announced by the Furness Funeral Home at Clark. Email condolences and sign the on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com