DELLA DEEVERS BESHER

Della Deevers Besher, 51, of Town and Country, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born March 30, 1947, at Cape Girardeau, the daughter of Gale W. and Della Deevers Heise. Her father preceded her in death on Nov. 11, 1996. She and James Besher were married on April 6, 1968, at Cape Girardeau.

She graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School where she was the head majorette of the band.

She graduated in 1969 with a B.S. in education from Southeast Missouri State College where she was listed in Who's Who in American Colleges. She was rush chairman of Delta Delta Delta sorority and a member of Gamma Delta. She was a member of the Student Senate and was a Homecoming Court Special Maid. She was also a member of the Freshman Orientation Steering Committee.

She taught at Hawthorne School in Cape Girardeau, Parkway Mason Ridge School and Immanuel Lutheran School in St. Charles.

She was a member of Village Lutheran Church.

She was a member of the First Connection Board, an active member of the parents association of St. Louis Country Day Team Football Parents 1988-1989, and a member of Mason Ridge PTO where she served as co-chair of the picnic.

She was an active member of P.E.O. and Twigs, an organization of the Friends of St. Louis Children's Hospital. She was slated to become an executive on the 1999 Friends Board of St. Louis Children's Hospital. She was also a past president and member of Friends of St. Francis Hospital.

She was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Delta Delta Delta Alumnae Association, the St. Louis Junior League, Friends of St. Louis Art Museum, Friends of the St. Louis Zoo, Friends of Rollins College and Boosyers of MICDS.

She was a recent golf champion at Bellerive Country Club and was active on the swim team committee.

Survivors include her husband; her mother; two sons, James Besher II of Cape Girardeau and Williams Deevers Besher of Town and Country; and a daughter, Della Allison Gale Besher of Town and Country.

Friends may call at Schrader Funeral Home in Ballwin from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Funeral will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Charles. The Rev. Allen Schade will officiate.

After the funeral, there will be a visitation in Cape Girardeau at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 2 to 3 p.m. Graveside services will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau at 3 p.m.

Memorials may be given in her name to Mary Institute of St. Louis Country Day School or to charity of choice.