July 20, 1952 ~ Nov. 11, 2020
Bisaross Koeu, 68, passed peacefully away from pancreatic cancer on November 11, 2020, at the Millard County Rehabilitation and Care Center in Delta, Utah.
He was born on July 20, 1952, in Cambodia.
As a child, he helped his father with farming. He joined the Cambodian Marine Corp in 1970 when he was 18. He fought on the side of the Cambodian government against the Khmer Rouge. He joined the American Military in 1972. When the Cambodian Government fell in 1975, Bis was trapped in Phnom Penh. In the city of Phnom Penh, everybody was sent away to the Killing Fields, including his family, but a few people stayed.
He said, "It was very, very sad. There were old people, sick people dying around me. There was no food, medicine, or drinking water. I couldn't believe my people were killing their own people like that." Bis was one of the few Marines to escape the city. He said, "I escaped in an old World War Il Navy ship with about 700 people. We decided to go to the Philippines which were controlled by the Americans."
They reached the Philippines on May 9, 1975, and were allowed to stay. He was sent to Pendleton, California and from there Bis came to Fillmore, Utah to work at the Mushroom Plant.
In 1990, Bis started working at the Garden of Eatin' Restaurant as a dishwasher. He became like family to most of the employees and many customers.
He grew a big garden every year and gave away or sold all that he grew. He would talk about that garden throughout the whole growing season. This was the first year he didn't grow a garden, but yet zucchini made it to our doorstep so he could get the zucchini bread that he loved.
He also loved to cook "Bawk, Bawk," and generously shared his chicken dinners with many.
He loved to go to Chinese buffets in Provo and even after he got out of the hospital after his first stay, he had to go get Chinese food before he went home. He touched so many lives with his kind heart and his sense of humor. His laugh was contagious.
He is survived by Vann Hem and family who came with him from Cambodia. He is also survived by his Paradise family and every person whose life he touched and made better because he was in it.
He had many, many friends.
He is preceded in death by his family.
A graveside service will be held Thursday, November 19, 2020, at 1 p.m. at the Fillmore City Cemetery. Interment will be under the care of Olpin Steven Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations to cover a headstone will be accepted at the Garden of Eatin' Restaurant and Olpin Stevens Funeral Home.
