Obituary of Bozena Burgess

Bozena "Bessie" Burgess was born May 15, 1913 to Stanislav & Anna Pleninger in Pittsburg, Oklahoma. She was one of 8 children. (3 died at birth). She lived in Oklahoma until she was 4 months old, and then her family moved to Big Sandy, Montana. She grew up there on the family farm and became the first of her family to learn the English language, when she started school in the first grade. She then taught English to her parents & sisters who only spoke Czechoslovakian. Bessie graduated from Big Sandy High School and then Northern Montana College in Havre, where she earned her teaching degree. She taught school for 7 years in the countryside around Big Sandy in a one room school house. She married Charles Ohman Burgess in Great Falls, Montana on June 1st, 1940. They were married 57 years and he died on October 1, 1997. After marrying they moved to Washington D.C. where she worked for the state department for 7 years, while Charles served overseas in WWII. After the war was over, they moved to Oregon, where they both lived the rest of their lives. They started in Portland, then Roseburg, Klamath Falls, and finally Eugene. Bessie lived the last 7 years independently at Terpening Terrace, where she had many great memories and friends. Her Children are Bryant O. Burgess, Marilyn K. Peery, & Terry L. Burgess. Her grandchildren are Cory R. Burgess & Joel S. Burgess. Her interests included all kinds of needlework, which included knitting, tatting, & crocheting. She also liked travel, gardening, puzzles, pinochle, and spending time with family. She belonged to several organizations, including, Amaranth, Eastern Star, Retired Federal Employees, & Trinity Methodist Church. Arrangements by Musgrove Family Mortuary in Eugene.