Lucille Bestgen

Lucille C. Bestgen, 81, of Tipton, passed away Monday, December 26, 2011, at St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City. She was born August 9, 1930 in Tipton, to Paul and Clara Lutz Orscheln. She was the second of four siblings. On January 10, 1949, she married Cecil Bestgen, who preceded her in death on December 1, 1987. She attended St. Andrew's School and received her high school GED in 1980. She was an active member of the St. Andrew's Catholic Church parish and served on the St. Andrew's School Board. She was a homemaker, raising a family of nine children. She also cooked for the Tipton Senior Center from 1977 to 1987, and ran a successful catering business. Her greatest joy came from being with and serving her children. Survivors include nine children: Benny Bestgen, Danny Bestgen, Ann Lowe, and Ellen Allee of Tipton; Paulette Anderson, Barbara Reys, Lucy Pedego and Mary Clark of Columbia; Laurie Bestgen of Versailles; 17 grandchildren, seven great- grandchildren; two sisters: Alma Fry and Mildred Martin of Tipton; and one brother: Ron Orscheln of Olathe, Kan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil, and two grandchildren: Aaron Pedego and Jason Butler. Funeral services for Mrs. Bestgen will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 29, 2011, at the St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Tipton, with burial in the St. Andrew's Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 28, at the church with a rosary at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Special Olympics. Arrangements are under the direction of the Meisenheimer Funeral Home in Tipton.