I am so sorry. Lynn & I knew Jim well (through many years of MHA
activities).
We'll miss him, and our thoughts are with his family.
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Besleme" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 3:27 AM
Subject: Passing of Jim Besleme (message from his daughter)
Hello,
I am Jim Besleme's oldest daughter, Kate. I know my dad thoroughly enjoyed
participating on this listserve and I thought members of the group would
want
to hear the news, albeit, very sad, of his passing. He went peacefully
with
his family by his side. I don't know how many of you knew my dad, but I
included his obituary below.
With every good wish,
Kate Besleme
===================================================
Obituary: James Besleme
James Harry Besleme, 71, died peacefully at his home in Columbia, Missouri,
on Wednesday, January 7, 2009.
Services will be at 2:00 on Saturday, January 10, at St. Luke the
Evangelist
Greek Orthodox Church, 1510 Audubon Dr., Columbia. Burial will be in
Columbia Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12:00 to 2:00 on Saturday, also
at St.
Luke Church.
Jim was born Feb. 21, 1937, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Harry and Katherine
Besleme. He married Margarita “Rita” Arianoutsos on April 27, 1969. She
preceded
him in death in June 2003.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering at the
University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1961. He went on
to earn a
Master of Science degree in Engineering Administration at the University
of
Missouri in Rolla in 1968.
Jim pursued a career in hard-rock mining in such diverse locales as his
parents’ native Greece, where he spent two years after college; and the
Steward
Mine in Butte, Montana. After his wedding, he went west with his wife to
Farmington, Missouri, where he worked for Joy Manufacturing and Sullivan
Machinery. In 1988 the family moved to Columbia. He worked for 14 years
for Knopke
Brothers Contractors Supply. The firm honored him several years in
succession for outstanding sales achievement. He continued to work for
Knopke after
the firm was acquired by Hertz Equipment Rental, and he retired from the
firm
in 2001.
Jim’s lifelong enthusiasm for, and rich knowledge of, the history of mining
and railroads took him around the world and led to many close friendships.
In retirement he continued to travel frequently to historic mines in Butte,
Mont.; Silverton, Colo.; Bisbee, Ariz.; and Australia, among many others.
As a
volunteer researcher with the Bureau of Land Management of the U.S.
Department of the Interior, he collected oral histories of the mining
community of
Mackay, Idaho. He was an officer of the Mining History Association. As
president of the train enthusiasts’ group Mid-Missouri Railfans, he
organized
numerous activities to promote a wider appreciation of trains and
railroading.
As an historical researcher he contributed to the logging journal “Tall
Timber Short Lines.”
Survivors include his daughter Katherine Besleme and her husband Orestes
Anastasia of Bangkok, Thailand; his daughter Irene Lobstein and her husband
Baron Lobstein of Moscow, Russia; a son, Harry Besleme of Columbia; a
granddaughter, Rita Anastasia of Bangkok, Thailand; and a sister, Tanya
Papadopoulos of
Mary Esther, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations may be made to the White Knob
Historical Preservation Committee, Route 1, Box 41A, Darlington, Idaho
83255.
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