Mary L. Bestick

Mary Louise (Landes) Bestick, born October 30, 1952, died March 28, 2011 of cervical cancer at the Hospice House of Spokane. She was born in Ellensburg, WA, to Charles David and Ann (Osmonovich) Landes, graduated from Cle Elum High School, attended Washington State and Central Washington Universities, obtained an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Lewis Clark State College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from ICNE/WSU, as well as certifications in Community Nursing and Progressive Care Nursing.

Mary worked as a teenager at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Cle Elum and the Elk’s Lodge in Lewiston ID. Upon graduation from Lewis Clark, she worked as a Registered Nurse at Toppenish Memorial Hospital, Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lewiston ID, St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital in Spokane, then 22 years for Family Home Care in Spokane, and most recently as RN at VHMC Progressive Care Unit in the Spokane Valley, where she just recently received the Carolyn Westfall AACN Award. She obtained the rank of Major as a nurse in the Army serving with the Combat Support Hospital #385 from 1981 – 91. In addition to her continuous employment as a nurse, May actively volunteered in the Central Valley School District, was a 4-H leader, helped with the Inland NW Figure Skating Club and the Boy Scouts, and organized her annual neighborhood 4th of July parade. She belonged to the Spokane Valley Nazarene Church and Spokane Bridge Club.

Mary was married on November 18, 1983 to Mark Bestick from Redwood Falls, MN. She is survived by husband, son Aaron, daughter Amy, mother, and siblings Richard, Charlene (Gerald Kauzlarich), Fred (Debbie Holt), David (Teri), and Nancy (Darryl Dazey), as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father and her niece, Mandy Kauzlarich.

Memorial services will be held at the Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene, 15515 E. 20th, Spokane Valley, WA, Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 1:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to the Hospice House of Spokane, PO Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210