Burial: 31 Dec 1968
Second daughter of Joseph and Catherine Niehoff Lecher, Catherine Philomena, was born in the village of Clarksburg, Indiana. She was the only daughter to survive until adulthood, her two sisters died in infancy. She was likely named Catherine after her mother and maternal grandmother and Philomena after her maternal great grandmother.
Minnie, as she was known, moved with her parents to a farm near the village of Hamburg where she spent her young life. When she was seven, Minnie's brother Clem was born. They were a typical farm family and spent their days working the land and doing the never-ending rounds of chores that kept them fed, housed and clothed.
As a young woman, Minnie enjoyed attending the local dances. It was at one of these social events that she met her future husband, John Bessler. They were married 28 Aug 1912 at St. Anne's Catholic Church.
John owned a farm near the village of Enochsburg and he and his bride spent the next 34 years there raising their family of eight children: Ed, Marcy, Clem, Kay, Dick, Leona and two daughters still living. Their son, Ed, was a widower with a small daughter when he died in WWII. His daughter was raised by John and Minnie as if she were their ninth child.
Minnie was a hard worker and was always busy with the household, cooking, preserving, gardening and sewing. In what leasure time she had she loved reading the newspaper, quilting and visiting with family and friends.
After John retired from the farm, he sold the property to his son, Clem, and moved to Oldenburg. He and Minnie lived in a rental house until he completed building their new house on the corner of Pearl and Water Streets. John and Minnie remained in this house until their deaths.
Always close to her family, Minnie insisted on a reunion every year. Over time as the family grew and some moved away, it became harder to have everyone together. However, they did manage to have everyone attend every few years. Memories of those picnics with the card games, volleyball, singing and great food in the back yard under the canopy of trees will remain forever.
Minnie died 28 Dec 1968 in Oldenburg of heart disease. At the time, she had five children living, 20 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Holy Family Catholic Church where she was a member.
Second daughter of Joseph and Catherine Niehoff Lecher, Catherine Philomena, was born in the village of Clarksburg, Indiana. She was the only daughter to survive until adulthood, her two sisters died in infancy. She was likely named Catherine after her mother and maternal grandmother and Philomena after her maternal great grandmother.
Minnie, as she was known, moved with her parents to a farm near the village of Hamburg where she spent her young life. When she was seven, Minnie's brother Clem was born. They were a typical farm family and spent their days working the land and doing the never-ending rounds of chores that kept them fed, housed and clothed.
As a young woman, Minnie enjoyed attending the local dances. It was at one of these social events that she met her future husband, John Bessler. They were married 28 Aug 1912 at St. Anne's Catholic Church.
John owned a farm near the village of Enochsburg and he and his bride spent the next 34 years there raising their family of eight children: Ed, Marcy, Clem, Kay, Dick, Leona and two daughters still living. Their son, Ed, was a widower with a small daughter when he died in WWII. His daughter was raised by John and Minnie as if she were their ninth child.
Minnie was a hard worker and was always busy with the household, cooking, preserving, gardening and sewing. In what leasure time she had she loved reading the newspaper, quilting and visiting with family and friends.
After John retired from the farm, he sold the property to his son, Clem, and moved to Oldenburg. He and Minnie lived in a rental house until he completed building their new house on the corner of Pearl and Water Streets. John and Minnie remained in this house until their deaths.
Always close to her family, Minnie insisted on a reunion every year. Over time as the family grew and some moved away, it became harder to have everyone together. However, they did manage to have everyone attend every few years. Memories of those picnics with the card games, volleyball, singing and great food in the back yard under the canopy of trees will remain forever.
Minnie died 28 Dec 1968 in Oldenburg of heart disease. At the time, she had five children living, 20 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Holy Family Catholic Church where she was a member.
Burial: 31 Dec 1968
Second daughter of Joseph and Catherine Niehoff Lecher, Catherine Philomena, was born in the village of Clarksburg, Indiana. She was the only daughter to survive until adulthood, her two sisters died in infancy. She was likely named Catherine after her mother and maternal grandmother and Philomena after her maternal great grandmother.
Minnie, as she was known, moved with her parents to a farm near the village of Hamburg where she spent her young life. When she was seven, Minnie's brother Clem was born. They were a typical farm family and spent their days working the land and doing the never-ending rounds of chores that kept them fed, housed and clothed.
As a young woman, Minnie enjoyed attending the local dances. It was at one of these social events that she met her future husband, John Bessler. They were married 28 Aug 1912 at St. Anne's Catholic Church.
John owned a farm near the village of Enochsburg and he and his bride spent the next 34 years there raising their family of eight children: Ed, Marcy, Clem, Kay, Dick, Leona and two daughters still living. Their son, Ed, was a widower with a small daughter when he died in WWII. His daughter was raised by John and Minnie as if she were their ninth child.
Minnie was a hard worker and was always busy with the household, cooking, preserving, gardening and sewing. In what leasure time she had she loved reading the newspaper, quilting and visiting with family and friends.
After John retired from the farm, he sold the property to his son, Clem, and moved to Oldenburg. He and Minnie lived in a rental house until he completed building their new house on the corner of Pearl and Water Streets. John and Minnie remained in this house until their deaths.
Always close to her family, Minnie insisted on a reunion every year. Over time as the family grew and some moved away, it became harder to have everyone together. However, they did manage to have everyone attend every few years. Memories of those picnics with the card games, volleyball, singing and great food in the back yard under the canopy of trees will remain forever.
Minnie died 28 Dec 1968 in Oldenburg of heart disease. At the time, she had five children living, 20 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Holy Family Catholic Church where she was a member.
Second daughter of Joseph and Catherine Niehoff Lecher, Catherine Philomena, was born in the village of Clarksburg, Indiana. She was the only daughter to survive until adulthood, her two sisters died in infancy. She was likely named Catherine after her mother and maternal grandmother and Philomena after her maternal great grandmother.
Minnie, as she was known, moved with her parents to a farm near the village of Hamburg where she spent her young life. When she was seven, Minnie's brother Clem was born. They were a typical farm family and spent their days working the land and doing the never-ending rounds of chores that kept them fed, housed and clothed.
As a young woman, Minnie enjoyed attending the local dances. It was at one of these social events that she met her future husband, John Bessler. They were married 28 Aug 1912 at St. Anne's Catholic Church.
John owned a farm near the village of Enochsburg and he and his bride spent the next 34 years there raising their family of eight children: Ed, Marcy, Clem, Kay, Dick, Leona and two daughters still living. Their son, Ed, was a widower with a small daughter when he died in WWII. His daughter was raised by John and Minnie as if she were their ninth child.
Minnie was a hard worker and was always busy with the household, cooking, preserving, gardening and sewing. In what leasure time she had she loved reading the newspaper, quilting and visiting with family and friends.
After John retired from the farm, he sold the property to his son, Clem, and moved to Oldenburg. He and Minnie lived in a rental house until he completed building their new house on the corner of Pearl and Water Streets. John and Minnie remained in this house until their deaths.
Always close to her family, Minnie insisted on a reunion every year. Over time as the family grew and some moved away, it became harder to have everyone together. However, they did manage to have everyone attend every few years. Memories of those picnics with the card games, volleyball, singing and great food in the back yard under the canopy of trees will remain forever.
Minnie died 28 Dec 1968 in Oldenburg of heart disease. At the time, she had five children living, 20 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Holy Family Catholic Church where she was a member.
Family Members
Children
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MoMM1 Edgar Anthony "Ed" Bessler
1913–1944
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Marcella Josephine Sister Agnes Bessler
1914–1938
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Joseph Clement "Clem" Bessler
1915–2001
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Alfrieda Magdalena "Frieda" Bessler Spiegel
1917–2013
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Catherine Theresa "Kay & KK" Bessler
1919–1953
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Clarence Frank "Dick" Bessler
1922–1980
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Leona Estella Bessler Kellerman
1928–2003
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Ruth Ann Bessler Bretnitz
1932–2014
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