St. Joseph - Sister Bess Pankake, 74, died Tuesday at St. Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud.
     Funeral services will be 4 p.m. Thursday at St. Benedict's Convent Chapel. Burial will be in the convent cemetery.
     Friends may call after 7 tonight and 8 a.m. Thursday at the convent chapel. A wake service will be at 7 tonight at the convent chapel.
     Sister Bess Pankake was born Feb. 28, 1918, in Forest City to Lindsay and Gertrude (Hess) Pankake. She entered St. Benedict's Convent June 25, 1938, made her first vows July 11, 1939, and her final vows July 11, 1942. She taught elementary school for 40 years at Holy Angels, St. Peter's and St. Mary's in St. Cloud; and at schools in Sauk Centre, Browerville, Sauk Rapids and St. Joseph. She had been a principal for 30 years during her teaching career. She did clerical work at St. Benedict's College/Convent Food Service before retiring in 1989.
     Survivors include a sister, Luella Orr, St. Paul.
     She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.

Added October 23, 2004