Jack Besso

Jack Moffitt Besso passed away peacefully on June 11th, 2017. Jack was born in Billings, Montana on September 2nd, 1941 to Joseph Phillip Besso and Geraldine Lucille Moffitt Besso. Preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife, Judith Louise Greene Besso, Jack is survived by his son, Sean Edward Besso, his daughter-in-law, Mindy Novesky, his younger sister and brother-in-law, Jane & Robert Shillingstad and numerous extended family and friends. Growing up in Billings, Jack was active in both baseball and football. He was also a member of the Key Club and The Order of DeMolay. Attending Montana State University, Jack studied & majored in Business Administration, graduating in 1964 with a BS. While at MSU, Jack pledged the fraternal organization of Sigma Chi where there, he met a majority of his lifelong friends. After graduation, Jack enlisted in the United States Army where he was stationed for active duty in Okinawa Japan assigned as First Lt. and working in the Data Processing Office. There, Jack met Judith (Judie) Louise Greene, a teacher from Caldwell, New Jersey working for the Dept. of Defense. They married soon after, leaving the island for Denver, Colorado where Jack was employed at the University of Denver with Saga Food Services and Judie, becoming a first time mother to son, Sean Edward in December of 1968. Jack and his family lived in Honolulu, Hawaii, Salisbury, North Carolina, Billings, Montana, Tillamook, Oregon and Moses Lake, Washington where Jack worked predominantly within the foodservice industry. Retiring shortly after from his position at Sysco Foods, Jack bought himself a “Bounder” RV and he and his loyal feline companion, “Kat” traveled the US visiting extended family, friends, well known monuments and catching baseball spring training in Phoenix, Arizona. Jack enjoyed traveling and sightseeing, spending time with family and friends cooking and hosting gourmet dinner groups and actively participated in local community theaters where he helped design and build stage sets. Jack was also an avid and loyal sports fan, always cheering on his “Griz”, the Oregon Ducks and the Seattle Mariners. After suffering a series of strokes while on his travels throughout the US, Jack safely made his way back to the Northwest to eventually settle closer to his son and daughter-in-law in Portland, Oregon where he resided there for 10 years before his death on June 11th. Often in his later years, Jack repeatedly said to those within earshot, “I’d rather be back in Montana, where the sun always shines and the sky always blue.” We believe Jack has finally gotten his wish…May he rest in peace in the midst of the sun and the blue skies of Montana and forever run with the “Griz”. He will be missed, but never forgotten. A formal burial & memorial will be held in Red Lodge, Montana on August 10th at 1:00PM at the Red Lodge City Cemetery with a reception following at the Red Lodge Pizza Co.

Jack Besso

September 2, 1941 - June 11, 2017