Jessie Richardson

Librarian and Naturalist Died on 6 April 2011 At Presbyterian Homes of Roseville. She was in Unity Hospital for a week before moving to the home, where she lived just four days. Jessie was born on 13 July 1922, the only child of Helen (Coe) and James W. Richardson. Her father was superintendent of Hibbing Public Schools. Her grandfather, Justin Eli Coe, served in the Iowa infantry during the Civil War; Jessie enjoyed summers at Swan Lake, rowing a boat while her grandfather fished. Her playmates included Catherine Nygren, a lifelong friend. When her father retired, the family moved to St. Paul, where Jessie graduated (early) from Central High School. As a child Jessie wanted to be a librarian. She cataloged her books using letters and numbers. In 1944 she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a library degree. One of her classmates, Betty Jean Hahn, became a best friend. Jessie was a librarian at the University of Minnesota, primarily in the Bio-Medical Library. She made another friend and travel companion when Jean Adams, Edinburgh University Medical Library, joined the Bio-Med staff for a year. Jessie retired in 1980 and began a career of service. A fifty-year member of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, she volunteered at the Steeple People Store, with friends like Gordy and Mary Wilcox and Kay Moberg. Jessie volunteered at the Science Museum of Minnesota, especiallyenjoying working with Dick Oehlenschlager and Carolyn Easter. An avid naturalist, Jessie loved to be outdoors, especially in Isanti County, where she watched birds with Mark and Nathan Johnson and enjoyed visits with the Bob Betsinger family. On vacations Jessie traveled to many parts of North America. In retirement she enjoyed birding adventures to Central and South America with Carrol and Ethelle Henderson as guides. Jessie lived for many years on Colfax Avenue in South Minneapolis. In 2005 she left there and said goodbye to special neighbors, Kathy Neuman, and Rebecca and Dan Woychick. She moved to Northeast Minneapolis to be near her friends Carol Urness, Dorothy Bohn, and Max the Cairn Terrier. She had special new neighbors: Mark, Lynette, Nick, Eleanor, and Conrad Stenglein, Jean Rarik, Denise and Terry Chesney. Longtime friends Arnold Fredrickson, Dorothy Lockard (honorary Northeaster), Dorothy Nelson, Karen Sheldon, and Lois Newstrand also welcomed her to Northeast. Jessie loved animals and always had one or two cats. A gathering in her honor will be held at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapel, 2901 Johnson Street N.E, Minneapolis, MN 55418, on Saturday, 23 April, beginning at 1:00 p.m. The service will begin at 2:00 p.m. followed by adjournment next door to Hazel's Restaurant. Memorials to donor's choice. Suggested: Cause for Paws, Inc., P.O. Box 130472, Roseville, MN 55113; the Raptor Center of the University of Minnesota. Thank you. Washburn-McReavy Northeast Chapel (612) 781-6828

Tributes

Jessie Richardson

April 17, 2011

Tributes

Jessie Richardson

April 17, 2011

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