Besta, Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen Besta, 85, died Sunday, April 18, 2010, at the Vinton Lutheran Home following an extended illness.

A Mass Of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton with Father Ardel Barta as Celebrant. Graveside services will be held at 1:45 p.m. Thursday at St. John's Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.

Friends may call at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. Sixth St., Vinton, from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, where a Scripture Service conducted by Sister Mary Hargrafen will begin at 7 p.m.

Mary Ellen was born March 4, 1925, at Vinton to Fred and Clara “Ethel” (King) Hensing and graduated from Vinton's Lincoln High School in 1942.

On May 26, 1947, she was united in marriage to Milo Besta at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton. The couple lived in Cedar Rapids their entire married life. Following Milo's death in 1974, Mary Ellen operated a popular day-care center in her home. She retired and moved to Vinton in 1990.

Mary Ellen was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton where she served on the Alter & Rosary Society. For 25 years she had been a Campfire Leader and was a member of the Izaak Walton League.

She is survived by her daughters, Janice R. (Gene) Kerr of Hot Springs Village, Ark., Ruth A. (Nick) Korines of Surprise, Ariz., Patricia M. (Willie) Hruby of

Cedar Rapids, and Barbara J. (Dan) Beyer of Mason City; her daughter-in-law, Janice S. Besta of Beresford, S.D.; seven grandchildren; four great- grandchildren; and her sister, Esther “Corkey” (Albert) Buelow of Cedar Rapids.

In addition to her husband, Milo, she was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Gary Besta in 2003; and her grandson, Mark Besta.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be designated to the Vinton Lutheran Home.

Condolences may be left at