Doris L. Nygard

Doris L. Nygard, 91, Bismarck, passed away peacefully on December 14, 2012, at her "home away from home" in Madison, WI. Services will be held on Thursday, December 20, at 11:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck, ND, with Pastor Steve Sathre officiating. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, December 19, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm at the Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, and will continue on Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church. Doris Marie Larson was born July 3, 1921, at the family farm just outside Mayville, ND. She was the youngest of four children born to John C. Larson, originally from Decorah, IA, and Hilda Rosholt Larson. Upon her father's early death, the will stated all of his children must attend college. Doris attended Mayville High School, graduating in 1939 prior to pursuing her degree at NDSU (then ND Agricultural College) in home economics. It was there that she met Clifford Nygard, whom she married on December 19, 1942. She arranged her student teaching in Portland, ND, while "Cliff" taught vocational agriculture classes at Northwood, 30 miles away. Both of them worked alongside their neighbors in the community cannery at Northwood, processing fruits and vegetables in a war-stricken economy. When Cliff's civilian status was reclassified, he was sent to Camp Grant in Ft. Lewis, WA. Doris worked in a hat shop in Olympia until she found work in the tax department at the Capitol. Doris followed her husband to Jackson, MS, on assignment to Foster General Hospital, where she also worked with wounded veterans in occupational therapy. At the end of WWII, they returned to Northwood, where the first of their four children, Virginia, was born. When her husband was invited to join a semi-pro basketball team, they moved to Bismarck in 1949. Doris was an exceptional homemaker and also worked as a substitute teacher, sometimes filling in for Cliff, who taught Vo-Ag at BHS. Because of her involvement with the Future Farmers of America, she was selected as their "FFA Sweetheart". Doris was involved and held offices in both Faculty Wives and the Bismarck-Mandan Home Economics Association. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the ELKS. She served faithfully at Trinity Lutheran Church for over 50 years, managing the kitchen, organizing the annual rummage sale, chairing her Bible study group, Circle 10, and on committees that cooked and baked for every event the church held. In later years, she occasionally modeled for publications of the Attainment Company's Aging Resources division. Having been the wife of a coach, basketball/baseball player and a referee, she was from early a lover of sports. She herself played basketball in high school. Michael Jordan and Derek Jeter were her all-time favorite sport stars, although she clearly recalled entertaining the late great George Mikan in her home when the then Minneapolis Lakers came to town and played against the Bismarck Phantoms. She also shared the story of the Legion team from Hawaii who arrived in Bismarck for the American Legion National Tournament without adequate clothes for cold weather. She invited them home to try on jackets and warmer clothing she located for all of them. Always concerned about the welfare of others, she remains a wonderful role model to her children and grandchildren. She was a loving and kind hearted woman, who never complained, regardless of the health issues that troubled her throughout her life. Remembered by her family as one with a fantastic sense of humor, the laughter will continue as the stories are retold. She is survived by her four children, Virginia Nygard Wood Trinidad/Bismarck, ND, Gordy Nygard, Phoenix, AZ, Judy (Mike) Broekemeier, Mora, MN, and Joni Nygard (Tim Heggestad), Madison, WI; five grandchildren, Marie (Buon) Nguyen, Surprise, AZ, Stephanie Nygard, Phoenix, AZ, Bryan Nygard, Parker AZ, Sadie (Jacob) Hosley, Champlain, MN, and Daniela Heggestad, Madison WI; five great-grandchildren, Jacob, Tyler, Kaitlyn, and Mason Nguyen, Surprise AZ, and Jameson Nygard, Phoenix, AZ; along with many very special nieces and nephews and friends. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Cliff Nygard; her parents; her siblings, Margaret (Art) Hefta, Carl (Aris) Larson, Helen (Gordon) Werner, and "special" sister, Sadie (Abner) Larson. Memorials in her honor may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, or Mayo Clinic's Women's Cancer Program