Grace Bergstrom

Grace Eileen (Montgomery) Bergstrom 1920 - 2011 GRACE EILEEN (MONTGOMERY) BERGSTROM Grace Eileen (Montgomery) Bergstrom, 90, of Nampa, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, June 16, 2011. A Funeral Service to honor and celebrate her life will be held at 10 AM on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at the Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel, 404 10th Ave. So., Nampa, 466-3545. Entombment will follow at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Caldwell. The family will greet loved ones and friends at the funeral chapel on Tuesday evening for a time of visitation and viewing from 7- 8 PM. Memories and condolences may be sent to www.alsipfuneralchapel.com. Grace was born on October 5, 1920 in North St. Paul, MN. She was the fifth of eight children born to Fred and Cora Montgomery. One of Grace's fondest memories in growing up was playing the drums, trombone, and glockenspiel in the North St. Paul High School Band. In 1941 Grace married her sweetheart, Ted Bergstrom, whom she met at the Nazarene church in North St. Paul during a concert by a quartet from Northwest Nazarene College! To this marriage four children were born: two daughters and two sons. Grace and Ted made their home in North St. Paul, MN for about 30 years. During that time they served their Lord faithfully in the local Nazarene Church. One of their acts of service was a bus ministry where Ted drove the bus and Grace led songs and passed out treats to the children that they picked up for Sunday School. It was their prayer that these children would learn to love Jesus as they loved Him. Grace filled positions of leadership in the church as well. She served on the church board, was the church secretary, and directed the choir to name a few. While living in Minnesota, Grace worked at her brother-in-law's pizza restaurants as bookkeeper and at 3M. In 1973 Grace and Ted moved to Portland, OR to be near his family and their children who were living there. In Portland, Grace worked in the offices of Parr Lumber and Portland Development Commission. Grace is remembered by her family as an impeccable housekeeper, an outstanding sugar cookie maker, and an expert seamstress. She also loved music, sang solos, and was in the church choir most of her life. In 1997 Grace and Ted moved to Nampa to be near their daughters, and at that time, became members of College Church of the Nazarene. Ted passed away on November 22, 2009, after they had shared 68 years of marriage, enjoying traveling in their motor home, visiting family and friends, going on fishing trips, roller-skating together, and playing with their most recent pet dog, Bambi. Grace is survived by her sister, Arles Balzer, Stillwater, MN; daughters, Nancy (Dallas) Elder and Jan Jellerson, all of Nampa; sons, Larry, Vancouver, WA and Denny (Julie) Bergstrom, Leavenworth, KS; grandchildren, Daniel Bergstrom, Portland, OR and great grandchildren, Evan, Avery, Esha, and Kaidee, Hood River, OR; Tom Bergstrom (Deena) and great granddaughter, Taylor, Portland, OR; Melanie (Mark) Hilty and great grandchildren, Andrew, Regan, Peter and Cole, Nampa; Brenda (Mason) Vail and great grandchildren, Austin and Ashtyn, Nampa; and grandchildren, Ryan and Kyle Jellerson, Nampa. Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Ted; her parents, Fred and Cora Montgomery; 4 brothers, Keith, Lyle, Dale and Wilbur; and 2 sisters, Myrna Rymer and Eunice Hollen. The family wishes to thank grandson, Ryan Jellerson, for his loving, dedicated care of his grandmother in her home for the last ten months of her life. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the College Church of the Nazarene, 504 Dewey Ave., Nampa, ID 83686 or to the Parkinsons Disease Association, in care of St. Alphonsus Hospital, 1055 No. Curtis Rd., Boise, ID 83706.