Bessie Lou Chapman

Bessie Lou Chapman, 83, of South Sioux City, NE died Saturday, February 15, 2014 at Careage of Wayne after a lengthy battle with cancer.Services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at St. Paul United Methodist Church in South Sioux City, NE with Pastor Carol Jean Stapleton officiating. Visitation with the family present will begin at the church at 10:00 A.M. Graveside services will be held at the Omaha Valley Cemetery in rural Homer, NE at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home in South Sioux City, NE.Bessie was born December 10, 1930 at the Old Dunn Estate, Cherokee, IA, the daughter of Robert and Petra (Pedersen) Fraser. She graduated from Westfield High School in Westfield, IA. She married Jerald Leo Chapman February 26, 1950, in Sioux City IA. She and her husband farmed together in Dakota and Dixon County. Bessie always had a large garden.Bessie was a 4-H leader when her children were growing up. In 1978 she was awarded the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Good Neighbor Award. She loved to sew and she made many quilts and gave them to friends and family members. In retirement Bessie and Jerry enjoyed fishing and camping. Many times as her grandchildren were growing up she had them all at the farm the same time.She was active in the St. Paul United Methodist Church of South Sioux City. She was also a member of the PEO of South Sioux.Survivors include a son, Wayne and wife Rita Chapman of Louisville, NE; two daughters, Nancy and husband Gary Braden of Wayne, NE, and Colleen Peterson, Overbook, KS; sisters, Anna Rolfes of LeMars, IA and Anita and husband Harold Little of Burlington, NC; grandchildren, Sarah and husband Grant Anderson, Seth Chapman, Makayla Braden, Jeremiah Peterson and wife Rachael Landrum and Jedediah Peterson; great-grandchildren, Rose and Calvin Anderson; and many nieces and nephews.Bessie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Jerald "Jerry"; son, Bryce; grandson, Michael Braden; brothers, Paul Fraser and Charles and wife Joyce Fraser; twin sister Betty and husband Richard Chapman; and brother-in-law, Bernard Rolfes.