Funeral services for Bernard Besser, age 82, of Carson, ND will be held at 1:00 p.m. MT on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Carson. Pastor Wayne Rouse will officiate with burial in the Paradise Lutheran Cemetery south of Carson.


Special music will be provided by Janice Steinmetz.


Serving as casketbearers are Ben Schaff, David Werner, Terry Miller, Dan Hartman, Jody Fuchs, and Jan Hertz.


BERNARD W. BESSER was born December 11, 1929 at McIntosh, SD to William Sr. and Caroline (Fuchs) Besser. He grew up, farmed and ranched in the Paradise Community in Grant County, south of Carson, ND. He spent many years custom feed grinding for area farmers and ranchers.


On October 30, 1959, he was united in marriage to Rose Knispel at Paradise Lutheran Church. Shortly after their marriage, he began growing a beard for the Carson Jubilee. He told many of his friends he would shave it when he had his first son. In 1979, his oldest daughter, Susan was married to Jerry Hauge. Bernard wore the beard to the wedding, then shaved if off before the dance. He finally had a son! When he arrived at the wedding dance, he was unrecognized by many friends and relatives. His daughters were especially surprised as they had never seen their father without his beard. He began to grow his beard again, and only trimmed it thereafter.


In 1992, Bernard and Rose retired to a hobby farm east of Carson. They loved to travel around the country to visit family, relatives, and friends. He also loved to collect old tools.


Bernard passed away on Friday evening, March 16, 2012 at his daughter's home in Bismarck, ND.


He is survived by his wife, Rose Besser, Carson, ND; three daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Jerry Hauge, Cottage Grove, MN, Rhonda and Dennis Billig, Tracy, CA and Utsi and Don Weikum, Bismarck, ND; four grandchildren, Carrie Hauge, Seattle, WA, Angie (Jeriah) Bowser, Durango, CO, Alice Weikum and Henry Weikum, Bismarck, ND; one brother and sister-in-law, Delbert "Sam" and Sylvia Besser, Stockton, CA; and two sisters, Shirley O'Connell, Carson, ND and Darlene Besser, Golden, CO.


Bernard was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Don O'Connell.


Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. MT until the start of the service at 1:00 p.m. MT at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Carson.


In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials to the Carson Fire Department or the MedCenter One Hospice (PO Box 580 Bismarck, ND 58502).