Bethene N. Jessen, 1925 - 2022

JESSEN, DAWDY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/14/2022 at 08:58:58

Sioux City Journal
21 September 2022

Bethene N. Jessen, 96, of Sioux City, passed away Friday, Sept. 16, 2022.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday at Christy-Smith Funeral Home, Morningside Chapel. Service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at Christy-Smith Funeral Home, Morningside Chapel. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Bethene was born on Dec. 30, 1925, in the Dawdy family farmhouse where her dad was also born in Climbing Hill, Iowa. She grew up in Smithland, Iowa, and graduated with honors from Smithland Community School. She then attended Samuel's School of Cosmetology in Sioux City.

On Sept. 4, 1948, Bethene married Donald Jessen in Sioux City. She began working various retail jobs and as a dispatcher for a local taxicab company. Later in life she worked as a waitress at Park Bowl bowling alley for over 20 years. She briefly lived in Council Bluffs, Iowa, then made her home in Morningside for 62 years, spending the last 16 years living independently.

Bethene loved feeding her squirrels; this brought her great joy. She also enjoyed watching reruns of her girls (The Golden Girls). For many years she kept score of World Series games. She was an avid reader of books, especially history and political biographies. She enjoyed music ranging from country to Van Cliburn to Elvis. She was proud to be a lifelong Democrat.

She is survived by her sons, David (Linda) Jessen of Hot Springs Village, Ark., and Kevin (Jean) Jessen of Sioux City; stepson, Richard (Judy) Jessen of Ankeny, Iowa; grandchildren, Josh (Lydia Vasquez) Jessen, Jori (Stephanie Heredia, fiancée) Jessen, Jessica (Brian) Conley, and Chris Jessen; step-grandchildren, Jennifer Petersen, Joel Biggerstaff, Jill Biggerstaff, and Jacey Johnson; three great-grandchildren; brother, Edward Dawdy; sister, Virginia Uhl; and several nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; parents, Lloyd and Velira Dawdy; brother, Eugene Dawdy; and three other siblings in infancy.

Donations can be made to the Siouxland Humane Society at 1015 Tri View Ave, Sioux City, IA 51103.