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Bessie O. Stolp Oct 28 2008
Funeral services for Bessie O. Stolp, age 97, of Watertown, SD, formerly Hayti, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2008 in the Grace Lutheran Church, Watertown, SD. Rev. Stephen Lauricella will officiate. Music will be provided by Marcia Jelsma, Bruce Reinhardt, and Rev. Jerry Stolp. Bessie passed away on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 in a care center in Watertown, SD. She was the widow of Ralph Stolp. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, rural Hayti, SD. Pallbearers will be: Jim Stolp, Mark Stolp, Greg Stolp, Dick Stolp, Dan Stolp, and Lyman Hanson. Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Friday from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service. Bessie was born on June 20, 1911 in Hamlin County, SD to Peter W. and Pearl (Prouty) Erickson. She attended rural school in Hamlin County and high school in Lake Norden, SD. While in school, Bessie was a member of the girl’s basketball team. She worked as a waitress and housekeeper until her marriage. Bessie married Ralph Stolp on September 27, 1930 in Watertown, SD. Following her marriage, the couple farmed on Bessie’s birth place seven miles west of Hayti. They moved into Hayti in 1961. For many years, the couple enjoyed square dancing and were members of the Promenaders in Watertown. Ralph passed away in 1998. Bessie was a former member of Hayti Lutheran church where she served as custodian for several years. After retiring from her custodial work, Bessie and her sister, Ruby, did papering and painting in many houses in surrounding communities. Bessie loved dressing up in costumes for various parades. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family. Bessie lived in Hayti for almost fifty years before moving to Watertown in 2005. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. Bessie is survived by four sons: Delos and his wife, Zeny Stolp, of Sun City, AZ, Orvis and his wife, Joanne Stolp, of Allen, TX, Gordon and his wife, Joyce Stolp, of Custer, SD, and Gary Stolp of Omaha, NE; one daughter, Judy and her husband, Richard Everson, of Watertown, SD; twenty-six grandchildren; sixty-five great-grandchildren; fifty-six great-great-grandchildren; one great-step grandchild and seven great-great-step grandchildren; and two sisters: Ruby Buri of Hayti, SD and Virginia Johnson of Aitkin, MN. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; a son, Curt; and one great-great-grandson.

Bessie O. Stolp
Oct 28 2008

Funeral services for Bessie O. Stolp, age 97, of Watertown, SD, formerly Hayti, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2008 in the Grace Lutheran Church, Watertown, SD. Rev. Stephen Lauricella will officiate. Music will be provided by Marcia Jelsma, Bruce Reinhardt, and Rev. Jerry Stolp. Bessie passed away on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 in a care center in Watertown, SD. She was the widow of Ralph Stolp.

Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, rural Hayti, SD. Pallbearers will be: Jim Stolp, Mark Stolp, Greg Stolp, Dick Stolp, Dan Stolp, and Lyman Hanson.

Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Friday from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service.

Bessie was born on June 20, 1911 in Hamlin County, SD to Peter W. and Pearl (Prouty) Erickson. She attended rural school in Hamlin County and high school in Lake Norden, SD. While in school, Bessie was a member of the girl’s basketball team. She worked as a waitress and housekeeper until her marriage.

Bessie married Ralph Stolp on September 27, 1930 in Watertown, SD. Following her marriage, the couple farmed on Bessie’s birth place seven miles west of Hayti. They moved into Hayti in 1961. For many years, the couple enjoyed square dancing and were members of the Promenaders in Watertown. Ralph passed away in 1998. Bessie was a former member of Hayti Lutheran church where she served as custodian for several years. After retiring from her custodial work, Bessie and her sister, Ruby, did papering and painting in many houses in surrounding communities. Bessie loved dressing up in costumes for various parades. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family. Bessie lived in Hayti for almost fifty years before moving to Watertown in 2005. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church.

Bessie is survived by four sons: Delos and his wife, Zeny Stolp, of Sun City, AZ, Orvis and his wife, Joanne Stolp, of Allen, TX, Gordon and his wife, Joyce Stolp, of Custer, SD, and Gary Stolp of Omaha, NE; one daughter, Judy and her husband, Richard Everson, of Watertown, SD; twenty-six grandchildren; sixty-five great-grandchildren; fifty-six great-great-grandchildren; one great-step grandchild and seven great-great-step grandchildren; and two sisters: Ruby Buri of Hayti, SD and Virginia Johnson of Aitkin, MN.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; a son, Curt; and one great-great-grandson.

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