Bessie Elaine Nelson

Born in Glendive, Montana on July 14, 1930, Bessie graduated from Dawson County High School in 1948. Growing up she lived in Lindsay, Lambert, and Glendive, Montana. Once married, Bessie moved to Helena, Montana where her three children were raised. Bessie began working with ATT Mountain Bell Telephone Company in 1948 until 1981 when she retired as Supervising Operator after 25 years of service. In 1981 she moved to Tallahassee, Florida and eventually to Port St. Lucie, Florida in 1985.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Clara (Ebelt) Herbst, father Anton Ebelt, stepfather Roland Herbst, and her two brothers Keith and Gerald Ebelt.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Donald, who she planned for early retirement with at the young ages of 48 and 50 so that they might travel together and visit family. She and Don enjoyed their U.S. and overseas travel and especially their extended visits to Bangkok and Chang Mai, Thailand over a period of several years.

Bessie’s hobbies included, in addition to traveling, crocheting, embroidery, crafts, compiling family history and a family cookbook, photographing family and watching Florida State Seminoles and Oregon Ducks football. When in Port St. Lucie, she enjoyed her time as Secretary in the Beautiful Waters Craft Club where she participated in making craft projects to benefit those who were hospitalized.

Bessie is also survived by her children, James D. Nelson of Kalispell, Montana, Karla E. White of Vancouver, Washington and Anna N. Smith of Tallahassee, Florida. She is survived by 2 sisters, Lillian Nemitz (Glendive) and Ida Mae Buyse (Billings) and other extended family. Bessie was the proud grandmother of 7 grandchildren (Sarah, Aaron, Chris, Justin, Elisia, Anakarin and Alan) and also 7 great grandchildren (Chloe, Caelin, Grace, Emma, Kadence, Lennyn, and Westley). She dearly loved attending the Jensen-Hansen Family Reunions.

Bessie will be remembered as a kind and gentle soul who did so much more for others than she ever did for herself. We love you to the moon and back.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to Bessie’s caregivers from Visiting Angels, NHC Home Care, Miles of Yellow Cab service, Dr. Bavikati, Dr. Camille Blake and their office staff for their kind care over the past several months, Jeff Cook of OldFields Construction, and Bessie’s Tallahassee friends who regularly visited her, as well as long distance family and friends who often wished her well.

A graveside service will be held at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home, Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, FL.