Bessie Pfeifer

Bessie R. Pfeifer

Bessie R. Pfeifer expired in Lancaster, Calif. of pneumonia. Bessie Pfeifer, a true Wyoming Pioneer, was brought to Wyoming from Hord, Ill. where she was born, to a homestead near Keeline as a little girl. She accepted the life, and loved a Wyoming boy and southeastern Wyoming. She spent most of her life within a few miles of the place where her parents homesteaded. She attended schools in Lost Springs and Manville.

In 1932, Bessie and G. Lavonne Pfeifer were married at the height of depression, and she became Bessie Rogers Pfeifer. Their son Charles was born in 1934, and Gerald was born in 1938. Through 1945 they lived on the Pfeifer homestead northwest of Keeline In 1945 G. L. was made County Treasurer, a job he held for 23 years. They raised their family in Lusk, first near the old Lusk Grade School (Elks building) and then on the west edge of Lusk. She was an equal partner in creating a house, home and family. Bessie was active in the Congregational Church and was a lifelong member of the Stars (Masons) and the Rebecca (Odd Fellows). She operated a flower shop in the Ranger building until they moved to the Pfeifer ranch at Jireh about 1956 to maintain ranch operations.

Bessie and Lavonne moved back to Lusk in 1962. They moved to California in 1992 to be closer to their family. Lavonne expired there in 2002. Bessie was the last survivor among her siblings. She and brother Harold Rogers were the only ones of her family to stay in the West.

She leaves two sons, Charles and Gerald, 3 grandsons, 3 granddaughters, 5 great-grandsons, and 5 great-granddaughters.

A family service was held in Lancaster, Calif., and Lusk services were March 5 at the Lusk Congregational Church.

Memorial may be made to The Congregational Church Scholarship Fund or the Niobrara County Library Fund.

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