Aug. 26, 1915 - March 10, 2007
Associate Billie (Wilma) Hessman was a widow for many years and a resident of Manor of the Plains in Dodge City. She was the aunt to our Inititate Bob Hessman (husband of Ruth Hessman OPA)
DODGE CITY - Wilma "Billie" Hessman, 91, died March 10, 2007, at Manor of the Plains, Dodge City. She was born Aug. 26, 1915, in rural Hodgeman County, the daughter of William and Clara Benish Tenbrink. She attended high school at St. Mary of the Plains Academy in Dodge City. She received a Normal Training Certificate. A resident of Dodge City, she taught elementary grades in Ford and Gray counties and Cimarron.
She belonged to Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Daughters of Isabella, Dominican Associates, Howell Extension and Old Timers Club, all of Dodge City. She was also a volunteer game organizer at Manor of the Plains.
On Jan. 27, 1949, she married Thomas A. Hessman in Dodge City. He died July 19, 1984.
Survivors include: a son, Steve Hessman, Dodge City; two daughters, L'Jean Dixon, Kinsley, and Sue Gier, Dodge City; a sister, Esther Bogner, Dodge City; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her brother Evert "Bud" Tenbrink; sister Virginia Tracy; and two grandsons.
Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday and a vigil service will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2007, both at Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City, with Father Ted A. Skalsky presiding. Visitation is from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greencrest Memorial Gardens, Dodge City.
Memorials may be sent to Sacred Heart School Endowment or Manor of the Plains, both in care of Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, KS 67801.
