Bessie Rosa Dent

Bessie Rosa Dent was born April 19, 1925, at home southwest of Beecher Island, CO to Howard M. and Gracie L. (Ekberg) Chase. She was the oldest of three children. She passed away August 25, 2015, at Hillcrest Care Center at the age of 90.

Bessie Rosa attended grade school at Beecher Island, grades 9 - 11 at Armel High School, and graduated from Vernon High School in May 1943. She attended one year of college at what is now the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. At that time she was awarded a teaching certificate. During World War II she taught at Bunker Hill, boarding with Freeman and Velma Morris, who remained life-long friends. Later she taught at Idalia Elementary School.

On March 28, 1946, she married her high school sweetheart, Paul J. Dent, at her family home near Beecher Island. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in 2008. To this union two children were born, Larry Paul, February 25, 1949, and Joyce Marie, April 24, 1950.

Bessie Rosa spent her life creating a welcoming home for family, friends, and anyone who might stop by. She enjoyed cooking and was passionate about baking. Her cinnamon rolls were legend, shared with fellow bus drivers, bank employees, friends, and family. Sewing, quilting, embroidering, and tending her flowers fulfilled her creative spirit. She taught Sunday School, Bible School, and was a 4-H leader for many years.
She was a long-time member of the Beecher Island Helping Hand Club, where she put her quilting talents to good use, as well as with the Quilters at First Christian Church.

In addition to teaching in the early years, she worked at Renotta Nursing Home,was a cook at Wray High School/Buchanan Middle School, drove a school bus for the Wray School District for 42 years, and was a courier for First Pioneer National Bank for a number of years. In May 2008 she retired as courier between the Wray and Holyoke banks. She continued as Beecher Island news correspondent for the Wray, Burlington, and St. Francis newspapers, which she had done for many years.

Bessie loved her time spent with the kids. In addition to her regular bus route, she drove the activity bus for girls athletics, plus many other activity trips. She was in on the ground floor when girls athletics became a part of CHSAA. In the early years the girls basketball state championships were especially exciting. She was always there to listen to the kids, to give advice if asked, but always to listen.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, her parents, Howard and Gracie Chase, her in-laws, Sam and Lucille Dent, brothers-in-law, Clifford Homm, Bill Mansfield, Alvin Williams, David Reingardt, and Rex McCourt, sisters-in-law, Blanche Williams, Donna McCourt, and Patricia Ash.

She is survived by her son, Larry Dent and wife Linda of Wiley, CO, daughter Joyce Brown and husband Ron of Beecher Island, CO, and grandchildren, Dwain Dent of Wiley, Eric Brown of Los Angeles, CA, Grant Brown of St. Francis, KS, and Riley Brown of Beecher Island. Also surviving are sister, Carolyn Homm of Burlington, brother, Manley Chase and wife Doris of Westminster, sisters-in-law Ellen Mansfield, Maxine Reingardt, Linda Lilly and husband Bill, and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services was held Saturday, August 29,2015,10:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Wray, Colorado with Rev. Steve Wynkoop officiating. Interment was held in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado.

Memorials may be made to the Friends of the Library, 301 W. 7th Street, Wray, Colorado 80758.

Schmidt - Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.