Velma Beisser

ARNOLD MOORE & NEEKAMP FUNERAL HOME, 710 S. DEWEY AVE., BARTLESVILLE, OK -Velma Jean Beisser, formerly of Bartlesville, died April 29, 2014 at Epworth Villa Retirement Community in Oklahoma City. She was 94 years old. She was born April 12, 1920, in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of Rudy and Edna Turnquist. She grew up in Des Moines and attended school there. When she was 16 she met Ed Beisser at a birthday party given by one of her friends. The next day, she was fond of telling, when she got to school several people told her "Ed Beisser is looking for you." He was waiting for her at her school locker. A quote from her high school yearbook reveals her personality, "Velma is just too darned nice to pick a fight with anyone." In 1938 she graduated from North High School in Des Moines and began working for Bankers Life. She married Ed on June 2, 1942 (her parents' 23rd wedding anniversary), and began working for Warner Brothers in Omaha while Ed attended Creighton University and played basketball. He eventually went to work for Phillips Petroleum and played basketball for the Phillips 66ers. Throughout their lives Ed and Velma lived in Des Moines, Iowa; Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Tampa, Florida, and eventually retired in Bartlesville. They had three daughters, Jan, Carol, and Linda. Velma was a wonderful homemaker and loving mother who encouraged her daughters to try many experiences such as dancing, baton, piano, and horseback riding. She was a true companion to Ed and shared his love of travel, basketball, and animals. She is fond of telling the story of how she helped a mare deliver her foal while Ed was out of town, and she also fed and cared for and even buried horses on their ranch west of Bartlesville. Velma was a volunteer at Jane Phillips Hospital for many years.She was an avid bridge player and also volunteered at Kane Elementary School. She was a longtime member of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church. She took her daughters to church when they were growing up in Salt Lake City and Tampa, and taught Sunday School and instilled faith in her children by teaching and example. She was fond of saying, "I led a wonderful life, so blessed with my parents, my husband, and three loving daughters." Velma was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Beisser, her parents, and many wonderful close friends and family members. She is survived by her three daughters: Jan and her husband Leicle Chesser of Lecanto, FL and Boston; Linda and her husband Bill Elfstrom of Edmond, OK; and Carol and her husband Larry Weaver of Parker, Colorado. She has seven grandchildren: Christy Giaritelli of Greensboro, NC; Matt Chesser of Stratton, Vermont; Andrew Chesser of Davenport, Iowa; Ross Weaver of Hermosa Beach, CA; Lani Ruark of Parker, CO; Kelly Elfstrom of Denver, CO; Ryan Elfstrom of Edmond, Ok. She is also survived by 7 great grandchildren.

Service Details

Friday, May 2nd, 2014 11:00am, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church

Interment Details

Memorial Park Cemetery Bartlesville