Bert Bezdicek

Bert Bezdicek, 79, of Perry, Oklahoma, was born southeast of Perry, Oklahoma on August 16, 1929. His parents were Frank and Mary Kosnar Bezdicek, who had come to Perry from Czechoslovakia with their parents. Bert died Sunday, October 26, 2008 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Bert attended Pikes Peak District 79 School located southeast of Perry through the eighth grade. He graduated from Perry High School in 1946. He was active in 4-H club, showing champion steers and barrows. Bert, along with some friends, started and held the first meeting of the Perry 4-H Club. Bert was elected their first President. He held 4-H offices at the local, county and district levels. He also was a member of the Noble County Livestock Judging teams. Bert was the State winner to National 4-H Congress in Chicago in 1946. Bert attended Oklahoma A M College now Oklahoma State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1951. Bert worked and lived at the beef barn all four years in order to pay for his education. Bert was a member the collegiate Livestock Judging team, winners of several national contests. He was active in the Animal Science Alumni Association, serving as president for three years and was instrumental in starting the endowment fund. Bert was a faithful supporter of OSU and enjoyed watching the football team. While attending Oklahoma A M College, he met and married Wilma Stark of Mangum, Oklahoma. They would have celebrated 58 years of marriage December the 28th. After graduation from college Bert managed a large purebred Angus farm in Wisconsin. He showed many national champions in the United States and Canada. Bert was a recognized Livestock Judge for many local, state, national and international livestock shows. He was instrumental in exporting Angus Breeding Cattle to Japan and Argentina. Bert was President of the Wisconsin Angus Association, Mid America Angus Association and the Chicagoland Angus Association. Bert had a love for cattle, the land and conservation, always striving for improvement. Bert always had a desire to return to Oklahoma and the opportunity came in 1973 when he was offered a position as Trust Officer of the First National Bank of Oklahoma City. During his twenty year banking career he held positions as follows: Vice President and Trust Officer of the First National Bank of Oklahoma City, Vice President and Trust Officer of First Interstate Bank, Vice President and Trust Officer of Boatman's Bank and Vice President and Trust Officer of Bank of America. Bert was manager and head of all of the Trust Real Estate and Oil and Gas Departments for the First Interstate Bank. He was also Co-chairman of the Trust Real Estate and Oil and Gas Department for Boatman's Bank. One of the organizations Bert was active in was The Sirloin Club of Oklahoma, which is made up of businessmen to help youth in agriculture. He was President and Director. Bert had a desire to help youth to succeed and has supported many of their activities. He was made 1989 Honoree of the Oklahoma 4-H and FFA Junior Livestock Show in Oklahoma City. Bert was also President of the following organizations: Southwest Livestock Foundation, Oklahoma 4-H Foundation, Oklahoma City Farm Club, The National Trust Real Estate and Oil and Gas Association and Oklahoma Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Association. Bert served as a Director of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Council, Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Livestock Council, member of the International Association of Energy Economist, Oklahoma City Chapter, member of the American Agriculture Law Association, member of the Key Club of OKC and served on Governor Boren's Agribusiness Development Committee. Some of the awards and recognitions Bert has received: Who's Who in Oklahoma, Honorary State Farmers Degree from the Future Farmers of America, Partner in 4-H Recognition Award for the State of Oklahoma, a recognition award from OSU Animal Science Department as an outstanding contributor to the Oklahoma Livestock Industry and OSU Graduate of Distinction Award for 1991. Bert was a Contributing Editor to the National Agri-Finance Magazine and to the Successful Farming Magazine. He was a panel member for the Texas Real Estate Research Center to provide market values for the Southwest. Bert enjoyed raising cattle and farming. While living in Oklahoma City and Edmond, he and his wife, Wilma, would travel to Perry, so they could care for the cattle and farm. Bert retired from Banking in 1993 and started a small oil company, BEZ Resources, LLC, located south of Perry. In January 1999, Bert and Wilma moved back to Perry to retire. Bert was currently serving as a Director for the Perry Memorial Hospital Foundation Board. Bert was a lay leader for the First United Methodist Church of Perry. Bert's religion was important to him. He had an active role in the various churches he attended. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at the First United Methodist Church in Perry. Rev. Ed Cook will officiate. Interment will be in Grace Hill Cemetery in Perry. Services are under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Perry or the Perry Memorial Hospital Foundation in care of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home, 1010 N. 7th Street, Perry, Oklahoma 73077. Bert is survived by his wife Wilma Bezdicek; three daughters, Sandra Van Kleeck and her husband, Kerry, of Belleville, Wisconsin, Peggy Linstromberg and her husband, Bill, of Sand Springs, Oklahoma and Pamela Lansden of Perry, Oklahoma; three grandsons, Daniel Linstromberg of Adrian, Michigan, Matthew Linstromberg of Sand Springs, Oklahoma and Perry Lansden of Perry, Oklahoma; one great-granddaughter, Alexis Linstromberg of Adrian, Michigan; one brother, George Bezdicek of Perry, Oklahoma and one sister, Helen Owen of Wichita, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Rose Heppler. Condolences may be sent to the family using our online guest book at www.brown-duggerfuneralhome.com.