Bessie Mildred Tow Barrett 1900-1944

BARRETT, TOW, FOGDE, BENDIXEN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 8/20/2011 at 23:18:53

Bessie Mildred Tow was born April 28, 1900 at Norway, Iowa in Benton County, and passed away May 16, 1944 at the age of 44 years and 19 days.

She spent her childhood in and near Wallingford and Graettinger and received her education in the schools of that vicinity.

In January of 1917 she was united in marriage to Bert Barrett of Estherville who preceded her in death March 31, 1938. To this union two sons were born; Dale Layton, age 26, now serving with the United States Army in England, and Ronald Eugene, age 14, of Estherville.

Others who she leaves to mourn her death, are her parents Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Tow of Terrill; her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Dale Barrett of Warren, Ohio; three brothers, Forrest Tow, of Terrill; Russell of Superior; and Donald Tow serving in the United States Army; two sisters; Mrs. Con (Hazel) Fogde of Graettinger; and Mrs. Howard (Ruby) Bendixen of Terrill and a number of nieces and nephews. Four brothers and a sister preceded her in death.

The above is reprinted from a recent issue of the Estherville Vindicator and Republican. The Times previously carried just a brief mention of the death of Mrs. Barrett. The Barrett family resided in this community for many years and when the couple first married they located here and were engaged in the cafe business for a time. Later they moved to Estherville. Mr. Barrett passed away a few years ago.

Old friends of the deceased in this community and friends now at distant points who keep in touch with local news through the Times, all learned with sorrow of Mrs. Barrett's death. She was very young in years to be called by death. For many years she has been ill and confined to her bed and the past few years of her life were spent in the hospital. Throughout these years she bore her trials and sufferings in a cheerful vein and in a Christian manner. She was a splendid wife and mother as well as a sister and friend. Though this obituary notice is appearing rather later the Times wishes to add this word of tribute to the worth of the deceased and to extend sympathy to the splendid sons, the brothers and sisters and other relatives. (The Times, Graettinger, Iowa, June 8, 1944)

Cp. Donald Tow who arrived home May 20 to attend funeral services for his sister, Mrs. Bessie Barrett, reported back to Camp Ord, Calif., for duty on June 1. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, June 1, 1944)