Bessie Mae Klose

Bessie Mae Klose, age 86, of Atwater, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, July 14, at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 22, at the Harrison Community Presbyterian Church.  (service will be live-streamed on Facebook:  Harrison Community Presbyterian).  Interment will be at Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, at the Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Atwater Area Help for Seniors, Kandiyohi County Farmers Union Education Fund or Atwater Alumni Association are preferred.  Arrangements are entrusted to Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Bessie Mae Klose was born on February 27, 1936, at home near Kandiyohi, Minnesota, the daughter of Arthur and Myrtle (Bosch) Johnson.  She grew up in the Fahlun Township and Atwater communities and graduated from Atwater High School in 1954.  On April 27, 1956, Bessie was united in marriage to George "Fred" Klose Jr.  After living a year in Alaska, they returned to the Atwater community where they farmed and raised their family.

Bessie loved spending time with her family and friends.  She was a FARMER until the end.  At the same time, she was involved in many community activities including:  adult leader of Happy Hollow 4-H, various roles at Harrison Community Presbyterian Church, Atwater Alumni Association, Atwater Threshers and local, state and national roles at Farmers Union.

Bessie was well known in the area as Bessie's Baking and famous for her pies and lefse.  Bessie loved baking—for and with her family and friends, for the county fair and countless benefits.  She enjoyed her animals (especially her dog Goldie), her birds, traveling, attending theater events, reading, catching up with others on the phone and watching her TV shows.

She is survived by her three children, Jeff (and Jean) Klose of Kandiyohi, Lori Klose of Atwater and Lisa (and John) Severson of Eau Claire, WI.; seven grandchildren, Nicole (and Joe) Schlagel of New Ulm, Brooke (and Mike) Knutson of New London, Renae (and Dave) Miller of Atwater, Kirsten (and Nick) Undis of Annandale, Erik Severson of Eau Claire, WI., Luke Severson of Eau Claire, WI., and Britt Sieber of Germany; and fourteen great grandchildren, Bronwyn and Rowan Schlagel, McCartney, Alexa, Ella and Chase Knutson, Brandon, Ryan, Paige and Sophie Miller, Karla Sieber, Delilah and Dexter Stevens, and Isaiah Carreon.  Also surviving is one sister, Lois Erickson of Willmar and sisters and brothers-in-law, Cleo (and Bill) Hunter, Brenda Dart, Monica Klose, Sue Klose, Richard Klose and Pat Klose, besides many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband George "Fred" in 2016; two brothers, Arlie in infancy and Marvin; one great grandson, Teegan in infancy and a granddaughter-in-love, Kandis Hays.