Special "Thanks!" goes to Findagraver Ken Smith for the sending me the following Obituary:
"Leo M. Bessner, 47, a Minneapolis patrolman 18 years, died of a heart attack at 1:30 a.m. on May 12th, 1958, after engaging in a vigorous struggle with a motorist who resisted him and patrolman George Dodds.
Both officers were exhausted and Dodds was bleeding when help arrived. The motorist, Larry Crabtree, 20, was handcuffed by officers when Bessner collapsed. Crabtree had been arrested for driving under revocation and placed in the rear of the squad car. Suddenly Crabtree bolted from the car and ran. Both officers chased him and when they caught him he fought with them.
A year earlier, Bessner, a former amateur boxer, was involved in a similar fracas with Del Flanagan, a welterweight prize fighter. Flanagan hit Bessner, who felled him with his nightstick.
Services for Bessner were held at Hodroff North Chapel with burial at the United Hebrew Brotherhood Cemetery."
*************
From Ancestry:
"On Monday, May 12th, around 1:30 a.m., Officers George Dols and Leo Bessner were involved in a fight with a motorist who was resisting arrest. Bessner collapsed and died soon after the incident of a possible heart attack, although he had no history of heart trouble. The motorist, Larry J. Crabtree, 20, was jailed.
Officer Bessner was 47 years old and had been an officer for 18 years. He was hired May 8th, 1940. He was survived by his wife, Frieda, and two sons. His funeral was held Tuesday, May 13th at Hodroff and Sons Mortuary and he was buried at the United Hebrew Brotherhood Cemetery."
**************
United States, Officer Down Memorials, 1791-2009
about Patrolman Leo M Bessner:
Name: Patrolman Leo M Bessner
Department: Minneapolis Police Department
Department State: Minnesota
Date of Incident: 12 May 1958
Death Location: Minnesota
End of Watch Date: 12 May 1958
Age: 47
Birth Year: abt 1911
Tour of Duty: 18 Years
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Notes:
"Patrolman Bessner suffered a fatal heart attack following a struggle with a motorist. He and his partner were attempting to arrest the man when he began to struggle. Patrolman Bessner had been with the agency for 18 years and was survived by his wife and two sons."
+++++++++++++++
Children:
Sheldon Zanval Besner 1933–2007
David Barry Besner 1939–2007
"Leo M. Bessner, 47, a Minneapolis patrolman 18 years, died of a heart attack at 1:30 a.m. on May 12th, 1958, after engaging in a vigorous struggle with a motorist who resisted him and patrolman George Dodds.
Both officers were exhausted and Dodds was bleeding when help arrived. The motorist, Larry Crabtree, 20, was handcuffed by officers when Bessner collapsed. Crabtree had been arrested for driving under revocation and placed in the rear of the squad car. Suddenly Crabtree bolted from the car and ran. Both officers chased him and when they caught him he fought with them.
A year earlier, Bessner, a former amateur boxer, was involved in a similar fracas with Del Flanagan, a welterweight prize fighter. Flanagan hit Bessner, who felled him with his nightstick.
Services for Bessner were held at Hodroff North Chapel with burial at the United Hebrew Brotherhood Cemetery."
*************
From Ancestry:
"On Monday, May 12th, around 1:30 a.m., Officers George Dols and Leo Bessner were involved in a fight with a motorist who was resisting arrest. Bessner collapsed and died soon after the incident of a possible heart attack, although he had no history of heart trouble. The motorist, Larry J. Crabtree, 20, was jailed.
Officer Bessner was 47 years old and had been an officer for 18 years. He was hired May 8th, 1940. He was survived by his wife, Frieda, and two sons. His funeral was held Tuesday, May 13th at Hodroff and Sons Mortuary and he was buried at the United Hebrew Brotherhood Cemetery."
**************
United States, Officer Down Memorials, 1791-2009
about Patrolman Leo M Bessner:
Name: Patrolman Leo M Bessner
Department: Minneapolis Police Department
Department State: Minnesota
Date of Incident: 12 May 1958
Death Location: Minnesota
End of Watch Date: 12 May 1958
Age: 47
Birth Year: abt 1911
Tour of Duty: 18 Years
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Notes:
"Patrolman Bessner suffered a fatal heart attack following a struggle with a motorist. He and his partner were attempting to arrest the man when he began to struggle. Patrolman Bessner had been with the agency for 18 years and was survived by his wife and two sons."
+++++++++++++++
Children:
Sheldon Zanval Besner 1933–2007
David Barry Besner 1939–2007
Special "Thanks!" goes to Findagraver Ken Smith for the sending me the following Obituary:
"Leo M. Bessner, 47, a Minneapolis patrolman 18 years, died of a heart attack at 1:30 a.m. on May 12th, 1958, after engaging in a vigorous struggle with a motorist who resisted him and patrolman George Dodds.
Both officers were exhausted and Dodds was bleeding when help arrived. The motorist, Larry Crabtree, 20, was handcuffed by officers when Bessner collapsed. Crabtree had been arrested for driving under revocation and placed in the rear of the squad car. Suddenly Crabtree bolted from the car and ran. Both officers chased him and when they caught him he fought with them.
A year earlier, Bessner, a former amateur boxer, was involved in a similar fracas with Del Flanagan, a welterweight prize fighter. Flanagan hit Bessner, who felled him with his nightstick.
Services for Bessner were held at Hodroff North Chapel with burial at the United Hebrew Brotherhood Cemetery."
*************
From Ancestry:
"On Monday, May 12th, around 1:30 a.m., Officers George Dols and Leo Bessner were involved in a fight with a motorist who was resisting arrest. Bessner collapsed and died soon after the incident of a possible heart attack, although he had no history of heart trouble. The motorist, Larry J. Crabtree, 20, was jailed.
Officer Bessner was 47 years old and had been an officer for 18 years. He was hired May 8th, 1940. He was survived by his wife, Frieda, and two sons. His funeral was held Tuesday, May 13th at Hodroff and Sons Mortuary and he was buried at the United Hebrew Brotherhood Cemetery."
**************
United States, Officer Down Memorials, 1791-2009
about Patrolman Leo M Bessner:
Name: Patrolman Leo M Bessner
Department: Minneapolis Police Department
Department State: Minnesota
Date of Incident: 12 May 1958
Death Location: Minnesota
End of Watch Date: 12 May 1958
Age: 47
Birth Year: abt 1911
Tour of Duty: 18 Years
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Notes:
"Patrolman Bessner suffered a fatal heart attack following a struggle with a motorist. He and his partner were attempting to arrest the man when he began to struggle. Patrolman Bessner had been with the agency for 18 years and was survived by his wife and two sons."
+++++++++++++++
Children:
Sheldon Zanval Besner 1933–2007
David Barry Besner 1939–2007
"Leo M. Bessner, 47, a Minneapolis patrolman 18 years, died of a heart attack at 1:30 a.m. on May 12th, 1958, after engaging in a vigorous struggle with a motorist who resisted him and patrolman George Dodds.
Both officers were exhausted and Dodds was bleeding when help arrived. The motorist, Larry Crabtree, 20, was handcuffed by officers when Bessner collapsed. Crabtree had been arrested for driving under revocation and placed in the rear of the squad car. Suddenly Crabtree bolted from the car and ran. Both officers chased him and when they caught him he fought with them.
A year earlier, Bessner, a former amateur boxer, was involved in a similar fracas with Del Flanagan, a welterweight prize fighter. Flanagan hit Bessner, who felled him with his nightstick.
Services for Bessner were held at Hodroff North Chapel with burial at the United Hebrew Brotherhood Cemetery."
*************
From Ancestry:
"On Monday, May 12th, around 1:30 a.m., Officers George Dols and Leo Bessner were involved in a fight with a motorist who was resisting arrest. Bessner collapsed and died soon after the incident of a possible heart attack, although he had no history of heart trouble. The motorist, Larry J. Crabtree, 20, was jailed.
Officer Bessner was 47 years old and had been an officer for 18 years. He was hired May 8th, 1940. He was survived by his wife, Frieda, and two sons. His funeral was held Tuesday, May 13th at Hodroff and Sons Mortuary and he was buried at the United Hebrew Brotherhood Cemetery."
**************
United States, Officer Down Memorials, 1791-2009
about Patrolman Leo M Bessner:
Name: Patrolman Leo M Bessner
Department: Minneapolis Police Department
Department State: Minnesota
Date of Incident: 12 May 1958
Death Location: Minnesota
End of Watch Date: 12 May 1958
Age: 47
Birth Year: abt 1911
Tour of Duty: 18 Years
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Notes:
"Patrolman Bessner suffered a fatal heart attack following a struggle with a motorist. He and his partner were attempting to arrest the man when he began to struggle. Patrolman Bessner had been with the agency for 18 years and was survived by his wife and two sons."
+++++++++++++++
Children:
Sheldon Zanval Besner 1933–2007
David Barry Besner 1939–2007
Gravesite Details
Son of Jake and Mollie (Sanborn) Besner.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
