Ludmila Besko

Our much-loved mother and grandmother, Ludmila "Mickey" Besko, of Ovid, Michigan passed away at home on August 18, 2012, at the age of 87, after a brief illness in the care of her family and Memorial Hospice. Mickey was born September 13, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois, as the youngest child of Stephen and Anna (Skrha) Michalek. She grew up on her parents' farm near St Johns, Michigan. She married James Besko in Ovid, Michigan, on June 25, 1949, riding in a wheelbarrow from the United Church to their reception.

Mickey was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star and attended the United Church of Ovid. She was an avid gardener, baker, and seamstress, had a special love for dachshunds, and enjoyed visiting with all of her extended family. She loved anyone that wanted to learn how to make kolache or homemade sausage. She was tickled to learn that her soon-to-be great-grandchild was eating Czech food already.

Mickey is survived by her daughter Sue Ann (Gregory) Palen of Ovid; grandchildren Megan (Ryan) Schrauben of Dexter, Meredith (fiancAC. Jeff Mills) Palen of Greenville SC, and Brock Palen of Ann Arbor; numerous nieces and nephews; special friends Carol Watson and Calista Reed; and her dog Lucy and cat Mittens. She was preceded in this journey by her parents, infant son Alden, husband Jim, brother Stephen (Eilene) Michalek, sisters Anna (Joseph) Motz and Bette (Elmer) Peace, and in-laws John (Elizabeth) Besko, AnnaMae (Ted) Thornton, Mike (Roseanna) Besko, Henry (Donna) Besko, George (Adelia) Besko, Mary (John) Srnec.

Services will be held at the Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes on Tuesday, August 21 at 11:00 am with burial in Maple Grove Cemetery, Ovid. Visitation will be Monday August 20, 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes in Ovid. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the United Church of Ovid, the Ovid-Elsie Community Fund, or the Memorial Healthcare Hospice.