BESSIE STREMCHA obituary

Bessie Stremcha, 90, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004, at a Havre care center of natural causes.

Cremation has taken place and her memorial service will be 10 a.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with

Ila McClenahan officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Vets Club immediately following the services at the graveside.

Bessie was born in Duquoin, Ill., to Frank and Cecilie (Hnetkovska) Bruk. She was raised and educated in Duquoin. She moved to Montana when she was 17 years old to help care for her sister Anne who was ill. Her sister died in 1931 and Bessie stayed on to help with the family.

Bessie met Joe Stremcha and the couple married in February of 1932. Joe and Bessie raised three boys 30 miles north of Havre where they farmed. Joe and Bessie retired from farming and moved to Havre. Joe then went to work for the railroad. He died in 1987.

Bessie enjoyed cooking and caring for her family. She liked putting together jig saw puzzles, crocheting and bingo. She baked scrumptious cakes and decorated them for her children's and grandchildren's birthdays and special events. Bessie traveled to Alaska and also to visit her son in Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joe in 1987; two sisters; one brother; and a daughter-in-law, Georgia Stremcha.

Survivors include her children, Ed Stremcha of Helena, Fred (Joan) Stremcha of Havre, Carolyn (Bob) Green of Havre and Robert (Cathi) Stremcha of Keller, Texas; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials in Bessie's honor may be made to the Northern Montana Care Center, P.O. Box 1231 Havre, MT 59501 or to a memorial of one's choice.

Services and arrangements are under the direction of Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.