Susan Biesen

Artist

June 6, 1943 — Sept. 21, 2015

Suzy was born June 6, 1943, in Astoria, Oregon, to Violet Hendrickson Husky and Wayne Husky. Five years later, she became daughter to Godfrey LaPlante and Violet.

As a small child, Suzy captured the hearts of everyone with her lovely smile, dark hair and beautiful blue-green eyes. She grew up in Alderbrook in Astoria, and had a childhood filled with summers of picking blackberries, swimming in the Columbia River, drawing, reading and writing poetry and listening to music.

Suzy attended St. Mary, Star of the Sea School, graduated from Astoria High School in 1961, and then attended beauty school in Seattle.

Shortly after, she married Don Biesen and had two wonderful children, D.J. and Cathy. After traveling to several states, as U.S. Coast Guard families often do, they settled in Alaska.

Throughout Suzy’s lifetime, she continued her love of drawing, painting and writing, and sold many of her paintings in art galleries and shows — some of them signed as “Suzy,” “de LaPlante,” and “Susan de La Plante Biesen.”

Suzy battled ill health much of her life, but her positive attitude and unwavering faith in God continued to give her strength throughout her lifetime. She loved life, and loved visiting with other people, and something that gave her great pleasure was donating to charities and becoming an ordained minister.

After her divorce, Suzy returned to Oregon and made her home in Seaside, a place she loved and felt most at home, and stayed active with gardening, reading, cooking and, of course, her main love — artwork.

Suzy recently moved to Astoria, and it was here she passed away on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015. A cremation was held at Caldwell Luce-Layton Mortuary. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date with family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Suzy is survived by her children, Donald James Biesen and Catherine Louise Biesen, both of Anchorage, Alaska; a brother, Dennis La Plante, and sister, Mary Krettler, both of Astoria; cousins, Wally Sarpola of Hamlet, Barbara Criddle and Bonnie Maltsberger, both of Seattle, Peggy Harrison of Seaside, Jack Petersen of Gearhart, Buddy (Bill) Hendrickson of Colorado, and Lisa Wyatt Hofman of Astoria; aunts, Eva Petersen of Gearhart and Evelyn Hendrickson of Seattle; plus numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Suzy is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Steve La Plante; and other beloved relatives.