Mary Ann Bessette

Mary Ann Bessette, age 71 of Grand Forks, ND and formerly of Grafton, ND passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at the Valley Eldercare Center of Grand Forks. Mary Ann Koehmstedt was born August 24, 1942 in Breckenridge, MN, the daughter of Edward and Tillie (Hiltner) Koehmstedt. She grew up in Langdon, ND and graduated from Harvey High School in 1961. She married Joseph Rohde in 1964 and the couple made their home in Langdon, ND. In 1984 she moved to Grafton and worked in housekeeping and the front desk for the Super 8 Motel. She married George Bessette on January 29, 2000. She retired from the motel in 2001. George passed away on May 22, 2008 and Mary Ann moved to Valley Eldercare in November of 2011. Mary Ann loved to visit with friends and family. She was fond of telling a good joke and always kept her humor through the last two years of treatment for cancer. She is survived by her daughters: Laurie (Randy) Mergenthal, Grand Forks, ND; Sharon (Dennis) Larson, Hunter, ND; Joann (Jamie) Ness, Grand Forks, ND; Lorraine Rohde, Grand Forks, ND; six grandchildren, one great grandchild and siblings: David (Charlotte) Koehmstedt, Strathcona, MN, Lavonna (Jim) Bailey, Littleton, CO; and Ellen (Morgan) Huset, Grand Forks, ND. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, George. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 11:30 A.M. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Grafton. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may also call at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Huntley Township Cemetery, Strathcona, MN.