Bessie Josephine Borud, 94, Minot and formerly of Berthold and rural Des Lacs died on Thursday, May 7, 2009 in a Minot nursing home.

Bessie was born on March 5, 1915 in Chester, South Dakota to Tollef and Sina (Johnson) Risty. She was reared and baptised there and on a farm in Des Lacs Township of Ward County where the family moved in 1920 following the death of her father. She was confirmed at Rose Valley Lutheran Church south of Des Lacs.

Bessie married Alfred Borud on May 19, 1935 in Glasgow, MT. They made their home on a farm in Tolgen Township of Ward County south of Des Lacs where they raised cattle and small grains. Alfred died on October 23, 1963. Bessie moved to Berthold in 1967 and to Minot in 2003.

Bessie was a member of Zion Lutheran Church - Berthold where she was active in the ladies aide. She was a former member of Rose Valley Lutheran Church and the Berthold Senior Citizens. She especially enjoyed gardening, crocheting, knitting and sewing.

Bessie's loving family includes her sons: Darrell B. (Dorothy) Borud of Powell, WY, Arlo (Faye) Borud of Stanley, ND, Larry (Karen) Borud of Minot and Leon (Linda) Borud of Des Lacs; daughters: Janice (Pete) Kleven of Des Lacs, Marvel (Ernest) Lenertz of Minneapolis, MN, Karen (Leonard) Rath of Minot and Marlene (Lynn) Grabow of Stanley; thirty grandchildren; fifty great grandchildren and half sister: Arlene Solar of Des Lacs and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bessie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandchild Blaine Borud, sisters: Gladys and Gertrude Risty and Hilda Larson and brothers: Johnnie, Otto and Talmer.

Funeral Service: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. in Zion Lutheran Church - Berthold.
Graveside Service: Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in Rose Valley Lutheran Church Cemetery - rural Des Lacs.
Visitation: Monday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Church, Rose Valley Lutheran Church, Berthold Senior Citizens or to the American Diabetes Association