Bessie Dickerson

Funeral Services for Bessie Dickerson, 87 year old longtime Buffalo resident who passed away peacefully Monday morning at the Amie Holt Nursing Home will be held Thursday May 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. from the Harness Funeral Home Chapel in Buffalo with Pastor Kenneth Thurow officiating.  Visitation will be held at the Harness Funeral Home Chapel in Buffalo on Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. A private family interment will take place at a later date in Willow Grove Cemetery and the Big Horn Mountains to be with Dugal, her late husband.  A private Celebration of Life Service for Bessie and her late grandson Daniel Dickerson will be held on June 26, 2021 in the Big Horn Mountains. Daniel preceded her in death and has been waiting to give her a giant hug in Heaven. Donations in Bessie’s honor may be made to Agape Assisted Living in care of the Harness Funeral Home at 351 N. Adams in Buffalo. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com

Bessie Lea Dickerson was born May 25, 1933 in Gillette, Wyoming to Nora and John Waggoner.  She grew up and went to school in Buffalo and graduated from Johnson County High School.   She was married on August 30, 1953 in Buffalo to Dugal W. Dickerson and they made their home in the Big Horn Mountains for several years, working hard, enjoying hunting and fishing with each other and beginning their family. Eventually they moved into Buffalo.  Bessie worked as an administrative assistant for the Johnson County School System for 25 years and most recently enjoyed meeting and greeting visitors at the Buffalo Visitor Center. Dugal passed away in September of 2010 and Bessie continued living in Buffalo until her death.

Bessie and Dugal danced for fun, traveled and faithfully attended St. Luke’s Lutheran Church.  Bessie loved being around her loved ones and held many family gatherings in the backyard of their home. Chicken and noodles, homemade bread, and other great comfort foods will always be enjoyed in her memory!  Bessie was a great seamstress and knitter, creating many beautiful sweaters and afghans which will continue to give her family hugs forever.   She was involved in church, her social sorority, and bridge club.  She was a faithful supporter of the Johnson County YMCA and spent many, many mornings rising early to do laps in the Y pool.

Bessie will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered.  She is survived by her by her daughter Darcy Conklin of Sinclair, Wyoming; two sons, Dennis Dickerson and his wife Lisa, of Edgerton, Wyoming and Brett Dickerson and his wife Robin of Plattsburg, Missouri; one brother, Garry Dean Waggoner and his wife Nancy, of Wagoner, Oklahoma; one sister-in-law Nancy Waggoner of Denton, Texas; one Brother-in-law, John Eklund of Buffalo; 5 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Awaiting her arrival in heaven will be her parents, her husband Dugal, her siblings Duane and Jenny Lou, her son-in -law Vaughn Conklin and 2 of her beloved grandsons, Dugal and Daniel. 

The family of Bessie wishes to extend our sincere thanks to her great caregivers at Agape and Amie Holt for sharing memories and appreciating her wry sense of humor.  Bessie’s best quote lately was regarding having to wear a mask during Covid, “this is a crock of %$#@”, with which most of us would likely agree. You are now set free in our hearts and memories and we give thanks for all that that you shared with us.