Bessie May Ritterbush was born July 6, 1904 at Creighton, Nebraska to Guy and Cora (Grim) Quimby and she died March 6, 2006 at the Parkside Manor Nursing Home in Stuart, Nebraska at the age of 101 years and 8 months.

Bessie grew up in Creighton, Plainview and Osmond, Nebraska where she received her education. She graduated from Osmond High School. After graduation she attended Wayne Junior College, where she met Emil Ritterbush. Bessie and Emil were united in marriage on June 11, 1924 at Martin, South Dakota and to this union one son, Clayton, was born. Together they made their home in the Mills, Nebraska area where Emil farmed and did custom farm work. He died in 1937 as the result of an automobile accident. Bessie continued to live in the Mills area where she worked in the Lingos Store in Mills running Central Telephone Office. She also did housework for various families.

Bessie was preceded in death by her husband, Emil; her parents, Guy and Cora; her three sisters: Hazel, Mildred and Pearl and her brother, Floyd.

Bessie is survived by her son, Clayton and wife Getha Ritterbush of Mills, NE; her grandchildren: Roger of Atkinson, NE; Scott and Bruce, both of Mills, NE; her great-grandchildren: Lori and husband Ron Armitage of Norfolk, NE and Shawn and wife Anita Ritterbush of Norfolk, NE; and her great-great-grandchildren: Bailey Ritterbush, Hannah Ritterbush, Nicole Mansfield, Andrew Armitage, Cameron Armitage and Chrystian Armitage; as well as several nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2006 at 2:00 PM at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke. Burial will be in the Olive Branch Cemetery, Mills, NE. Visitation will be prior to the services on Thursday at the funeral home.