Bessie Fern Magill, 102

Former Herman resident Bessie Fern Magill, 102, of Blair, died Wednesday, April 23, 2003, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Blair. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Herman Community Church. Interment will be in the Herman Cemetery.

A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home. Visitation begins at 9 a.m. Friday.

Bessie Fern Magill was born April 22, 1901, on a farm west of Herman to Henry and Eva (Schellenger) Hovendick. She attended Vacoma, New England and Hill Creek Schools. She was a baptized member of the New England Baptist Church in the early 1900s, later transferring to the Herman Methodist Church. She then attended Wayne State Normal College, where she attained a teaching certificate to teach in rural schools. She was a school teacher in rural Washington County for four years.

On Dec. 24, 1923, she married Raymond Magill in Council Bluffs, Iowa. They farmed in the Herman area until retiring and moving to Blair in 1967.

Mrs. Magill loved to quilt and belonged to the quilting circle at the church; she also enjoyed making quilts for her grandchildren. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles. She volunteered many hours at the Veterans Hospital in Omaha, and was a life member of the Herman American Legion Auxiliary. Mrs. Magill lived her entire life in Washington County.

One of the things she talked about most was how things had changed over the years, including how things were done “the hard way”, and the ways that machines and technology have now taken over. She attributed her long life to the hard work they did years ago.

She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Raymond and Fran Magill of Herman, and Orville and Madge Magill of Craig; daughter and son-in-law, Marlene and Norman Hineline of Omaha; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; four sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond, in 1976; two sisters, Gladys Jackson and Grace Magill; and three brothers, Fred, Louis and Ivan Hovendick.

Memorials are suggested to the Herman Community Church or Good Shepherd Lutheran Home.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

World Herald 24 April 2003

Magill – Bessie F., age 102 yrs., Blair, formerly of Herman. Survived by sons, Raymond Jr. and Fran, Herman, NE, Orville and Madge, Craig, NE; daughter, Marlene and husband Norman Hineline, Omaha; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 9 great-great-grandchildren.

Services 10:30 am Sat., Herman Community Church. Burial Herman Cemetery.

Visitation begins 9 am Fri., with Prayer Service at 7 pm. Memorials to Herman Community Church or Good Shepherd Home.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home Blair, NE 402-426-2191

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

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