Bess Egan, daughter of Dan and Lizzie Egan, was born in Hyannis, Nebraska, 21 June 1900. Bess attended the Hyannis schools and was a member of the 1917 graduating class.

Bill Heelan was born at Lincoln, Nebraska 1 May, 1880 and was the son of Thomas Heelan and Margaret Costello. He was a graduate of Lincoln High School in 1899 and a 1911 graduate of Creighton University Law College. He practiced law in Mullen, Nebraska from 1911 through 1921. In 1921, Bill set up practice in Valentine, Nebraska where he was the County Attorney from 1921- 1935, and was City Attorney for several years beginning in 1937. He was a member of the Nebraska State County Attorneys Association and was Treasurer from 1922-1934. Bill was a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association; a past president of the Rotary; a member of the Knights of Columbus; and held the office of Treasurer of the Democratic County Central Committee. His offices were located in the Heelan Building. He and Bess attended St. Nicholas Catholic Church.

For those who ever knew Bess, the first word that would come to mind was "Lady." Bess was a beautiful, intelligent, well spoken, and charming woman and earned the affection and admiration of of all who came in contact with her.

Aunt Bess knew her share of heartbreak and faced tragedy and life's challenges with grace. Her oldest son, Tommy Dan age 24, was critically burned while a Master Sgt. He had been returning with a convoy of the Thirty-fourth Infantry Division from a training mission at Ft. Leonard Wood, when his truck overturned on 26 August 1949 near Chillicothe, MO. A gasoline drum on the truck exploded and set fire to his clothing. He sustained third degree burns to his head, arms, and legs.

Mercifully, Bess did not live to see her third son, Robert, murdered during a robbery that took place in 1987 at the store that he owned.

My own first experience with my Great Aunt Bess, was when I was about age four or five. I was invited to Bess' home for tea. She and I sat together visiting over Constant Comment Tea, prepared in what is now an antique McCoy teapot, nibbling cookies, and then afterward playing with dolls. We had the most marvelous "tea party" that day, and I thought that Aunt Bess was the most elegant creature I had ever encountered. As I was taking my leave, Aunt Bess gifted me with the green tea pot, and her dolls with which we had been playing. I treasure them, and my memories of her, to this day.

Bess and Bill had four sons:

Thomas D. Heelan b. private
William J. Heelan b. 1927 d. 1989
Robert J. Heelan b. 1932 d. 1987
G. John Heelan b. private