Emily Ann (Holton) Bisbee, 81, died at her home in Waitsfield, VT,
June 1, 2010, after a long battle with cancer. She was born in Erwin,
South Dakota, on September 18, 1928, daughter of Sidney and Hilda
Holton. Emily married Richard M. Bisbee in Erwin, SD, June 17, 1951.
Emily attended public school in Erwin, SD, graduating from Erwin High
School in 1946. She continued her education at Yankton College in
Yankton, SD, where she graduated with a bachelor of music degree in
1950. She had a major in public school music education with a major in
piano. Emily started piano lessons when she was seven years old. Emily
taught private piano lessons for over 40 years. She taught public school
music in Platte, SD, 1951 to 1952, and taught piano students at Yankton
College, 1954 to 1956. She also taught public school music in Wilmont,
MN, 1968 to 1970; Sacred Heart School Worthington, MN, 1970 to 1975;
Brewster Public School, 1970 to 1990; as well as Sioux Valley, MN, 1980
to 1991. She was Teacher of the Year in Brewster, MN.
Emily also directed church choirs in Worthington, MN, for over 25 years.
Emily spent summers with her family in Harrison and North Bridgton, ME,
for 48 years where she was involved in the Harrison/North Bridgton
Church music, playing piano and organ and directing the choir. Emily
retired from teaching in 1991.
Emily became a member of Eastern Star Fern Leaf Chapter #28 in Bryant,
SD, in 1947 and continued her membership throughout her lifetime. She
was frequently organist for various chapters where the family lived. She
was a member of the Minnesota Music Education Association as well as
several other music organizations. She belonged to American Association
of University Women and a member of Alpha Delta Kappa since 1980. She
played in the Worthington City Band; sang in Sweet Adelines in
Worthington, MN; and sang in the Oratorio Chorus and Community Chorus in
Worthington, MN. Her entire life has been dedicated to music and
teaching music to young people as well as church music and choirs. She
was an avid reader as well as working crossword puzzles daily. She loved
to play Upwords.
Emily has lived in many communities. She lived in Crestview, FL, and
Denver, CO, when her husband was in the service. The family than lived
in Yankton, SD, Woodstock, VT, Worthington, MN, and summers from 1961 to
the present in Harrison/North Bridgton, ME. Emily retired with her
husband to Waitsfield, VT, in 1991 at which time they spent 17 winters
in Florida.
Emily is survived by her husband, Richard, of 59 years and 5 children,
11 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Dorothy Nelson and her daughter
Anna of Portland, OR; David Bisbee and wife Tamara of Stowe, VT, and
daughters Jaime of San Diego, Megan and husband Mikel Bisbee-Durlam of
New York City, Clare and husband Geoffrey Brasse and daughter Sophia
Lorraine of Tucson; Barry Bisbee and wife Ruth of Stewartville, MN, and
children Emily, Tyler, Molly; Ronald Bisbee and wife Jan of Winterport,
ME, and sons Wyatt and Tanner; Martha Powers and husband Michael of
Chaska, MN, and daughters Michaela and Katelyn.
Family and friends graveside services will be held in the Waitsfield
Common Cemetery June 26, 2010, at 2 p.m. The family requests that there
be no flowers. Memorials may be sent to Central Vermont Home Health and
Hospice, Inc., 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641 or United Parish
Congregational Church, P.O. Box 95, Harrison, Maine 04040. Anyone
wishing to send cards may send them to 56 Bushnell Road, Waitsfield, VT
05673.
