Jeanne A. Bellessa

JEANNE ANN (BINGHAM) BELLESSA (1922-2014) Jeanne Ann Bellessa died of natural causes on Sunday, August 24, 2014 at her residence in the Hearthstone Health Care facility, near Green Lake in Seattle, Washington. She was 92 years old. Mom is a product of a Mormon-pioneer heritage, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, teaching grade school during World War II, marriage to an army solider/railroad man, raising five children as a stay-at-home mother, and extensive church service. Jeanne was born in Payson, Utah on May 7, 1922. Her parents were Thayne Perry Bingham (1894-1951) and Veatus Mattinson (1893-1947). She was the youngest of four children Frank, Bliss, and Betty all of whom pre-deceased her. Jeanne often recalled her work on a family farm, such as weeding sugar beets in the hot summer sun. After skipping a grade in elementary school, Jeanne graduated from Payson High School, where she enjoyed being a cheerleader. Jeanne attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, receiving a teaching certificate after three years. She was the first of her family to attain a college education. Jeanne then taught grade school for three years in Toole, Utah. She met the man of her dreams nearby at an USO dance on the Dugway Proving Ground, where James L. Bellessa spent his fourth year of military service during World War II as a boilermaker. Jim hailed from Roslyn, Washington. After dating and engagement, Dad would sneak off the base for the weekends to be with Jeanne by twisting his ring around to appear as a wedding band. Dad would sleep on the couch of a fellow serviceman who was married and allowed to leave for the weekend to be with his wife in Tooele. Jim and Jeanne married on August 4, 1945 in Payson, Utah. As active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they were sealed for all time and eternity in the Salt Lake Utah Temple in 1955. After Jim was discharged from the U.S. Army at the end of World War II, they soon made their home in Seattle, Washington. Jim worked in Seattle as a fireman, and later as an engineer, for the Northern Pacific Railroad. During the latter part of his career, Jim was a union representative for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. During his long hours of making a living, Jeanne uncomplainingly held down the home front. Their homes in the Woodland Park and Green Lake areas were blessed with five children, James Jr. (1946), David (1949), Clark (1953), Patty (1955), and Kay (1960). Jeanne has 19 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. While nurturing her family, Jeanne was often called to serve in the auxiliary organizations of her Church ward. She was pleased to have served both as a Primary President and as Relief Society President. Jeanne served as a volunteer teaching reading to students at Daniel Bagley Elementary School and assisting handicapped workers at Deseret Industries. She enjoyed playing Scrabble with her children, walking around Green Lake, and attending Seattle Sonic games (Jim and Jeanne actually won a European cruise at one of those games). Most of all she relished being a homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother.