Bessie June Andersen, 94 years wise, of Liberal, passed away March 8, 2025 in Liberal.
June was the youngest of five children, adopted by Richard Willis and Nettie Pearl Boyd.
Born May 19, 1930, in Kansas City, Mo., June was raised on a farm outside Meade. She drove a tractor by the age of 8 preferring to work with her dad in the fields rather than assist Mom and sisters in the kitchen. She never wavered from that preference!
In 1954 June married Billie LeRoy Andersen, a handsome and adventuresome young man from the Sandhills of Nebraska. They celebrated 66 years of marriage raising their two children then adding more than 100 foster children to their family during their 44 years of active foster care. They adopted as well and added a sister and brother to the fold.
During the decades Bill and June were foster parents, they were awarded several awards from Saint Francis Community Services and made Foster Parents of the year receiving a commendation from then-President Barack Obama. Talking to some of her foster girls, I heard a common theme: “they gave us a normal life Without that we would not have been successful in our lives, we learned rules, responsibilities, accountability and respect.” Bill was mostly a silent partner when rules were enforced, but he was a solid partner for June. She frequently communicated with many of” her girls”, as she called them, until her passing . She was quiet, calm, which allowed her the opportunity to listen. That became an important trait for many girls in her care; it was important as a young adult to have a mother who quietly listened but let us make our own decisions.
Another legacy left to the community was her involvement with OTLR (Original Town of Liberal Revitalization). She was president of the organization until her passing, March 8. She was proud of the projects they completed and houses they built or renovated for affordable housing for Liberal residents.
June left a legacy to her community and her family. We are proud of the woman she was; the mother she was, the leader she was. She will be so very missed by her family, her friends, her girls and her community.
June is survived by daughters: Seena Cox (husband Steve Skellenger) Bentonville, Ark., Nettie Andersen, Boulder Colo., and Bonnie Keating (husband Russ Keating), Liberal; sisters, Char Taylor (husband Loren), Nebraska, and Kay Wolfenden, Nebraska; grandchildren: Branon Cox (wife Terri Rettig), Mesa, Ariz., Breann Cox, Washington D.C., Nicole Bicanich, Denver, Nash Keating (wife Vanessa), Liberal, and Kinnedy Keating, Kansas City. She recently became a great-grandmother and leaves numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews as well as many good friends and neighbors.
Preceding June in death is her husband Bill; her sisters, Ada and Dorinda; brothers, Berkley and Clyde; and her parents, Richard and Nettie.
• There will be no public viewing.
Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 15, 2025 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church.
Burial will follow at the Liberal City Cemetery in Liberal.
Condolences may be left at millermortuary.net.
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