The Worcester Miscellany
![[Dividing Line Image]](images/div.gif){kind=small}
No. 1244-1-E Mark Duaine Worcester
Wife, Elizabeth's Obituary
Obituary, Bismarck Tribune
Elizabeth E. "Bessie" Worcester, 86, Bismarck, died June 1, 1998, in a Bismarck nursing home after a long, courageous battle with cancer. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. today at Eastgate Funeral Chapel, Bismarck, with Deacon Ken Klein officiating. Bessie has donated her body to science.
Bessie was born on Sept. 11, 1911, to James P. and Muriel (Prescott) Curran in Grand Forks. As a young girl, her family moved to Bismarck where she completed her schooling, graduating from St. Mary's High School in 1929.
On June 13, 1936, Bessie and Mark D. Worcester, of Lidgerwood were married in Wibaux, Mont. They lived in several small western North Dakota towns until 1942 when Mark was appointed District Agent for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and transferred to Bismarck.
Bessie held several jobs, including newspaper reporter, legal secretary, secretary in the North Dakota State Insurance and Agriculture Departments and clerk for the North and South Dakota National Guard. While living in Minnesota, she was the payroll clerk for the Corps of Engineers at the Libbey Dam until her retirement in 1971. She and her husband spent time in Mitchell, S.D., and at Big Sandy Lake, near McGregor, Minn., finally returning to Bismarck in 1990.
Bessie was very active in the auxiliaries for the American Legion, V.F.W., and Moose Club. She served in various officer positions, including president of these groups.
Bessie enjoyed music, reading, bowling and visiting with family and friends.
She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Vivian and Jerry Gaschk, Bismarck, and Barbara and Jerry Wojciechowski, Lockport, Ill.; one son and daughter-in-law, Mark J. and Donna Worcester, Elgin; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Marian Spaziani, Elmira, N.Y., and Delores Curran, Las Vegas, Nev.; several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and a special friend, April Friez.
She was preceded in death by her husband, one brother and her parents.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the American Cancer Society. (Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck)