Nancy Bingham

Nancy Ann Bingham, age 92, left to join her sweetheart, Stephen, for Valentine's Day. Nancy was born April 17, 1933, to Dr. Benjamin and Agnes Kliebenstein at their home in Platteville, Wisconsin. She passed away on Saturday, February 14th, at her home in Safford.

In 1938, Nancy began her education journey at the Platteville State Teachers College Laboratory School where she found her first passion--education. In addition to receiving an outstanding education, the students were involved in the war effort picking milkweed pods. The fibers from these pods were used to line life jackets as other materials were scarce. Nancy attended Platteville High School, graduating in 1951. She worked during summer vacations de-tasseling corn which was a common summer job for teenagers.

After graduating from high school Nancy immediately enrolled in what was then, Wisconsin State College pursuing a degree in elementary education. In 1953, Nancy met her future husband, Stephen Bingham, and they were married in 1954 shortly before Stephen was shipped overseas. She continued to live in Platteville and completed her Bachelor's degree.

After Stephen completed his army service, they moved to Coleman, Wisconsin for several years. While there a daughter and a son joined the family. Deciding to experience more of the country, they moved to Gila, New Mexico. This was quite a cultural shock to Nancy, but she quickly assimilated. She often talked about how the people in this small town knew how to create their own entertainment and said that the time in Gila was truly the most fun she had experienced. The next move was to Tucson, Arizona where Stephen enrolled in the University of Arizona. They lived in Polo Village, in one half of a Quonset hut, which was the "married student housing". A daughter joined the family during their time there. In 1963, Stephen took a job at Eastern Arizona College and they settled in Safford where another son was born. Nancy was very extroverted and found it fulfilling to make friends and acquaintances wherever she found herself.

While raising her family, she was very involved in her children's activities. She taught Head Start for three years, was a substitute teacher and was one of the first teachers when Dorothy Stinson School was built. Nancy felt to be an effective teacher she needed more education so spent a summer at ASU, earning her Master of Education with an emphasis in Special Education. Nancy primarily taught 1st grade and when her former students graduated from high school, she sent a card to those she could find contact information. She said it was very bittersweet when she mailed the graduation cards for her last 1st grade class.

Retiring from teaching in 1988, many people told her she would be bored. Not Nancy. She cared for grandchildren and found a new passion-volunteering, Nancy served on the Methodist Church Daycare Board which she said was very special to her. Other organizations she was involved with Included the Gila Valley Arts Council, Cowboy Poets, and organized several annual quilt shows.

In 2001, Nancy and Stephen moved to Alpine, Arizona into a home they had previously purchased. They spent 20 years living there full-time. She continued to be involved in the community with the Bush Valley Craft Club, Friends of the Library, thrift store and quilt shows. The community church was very important to her. Nancy and Stephen both enjoyed the fun and supportive friendships they made there. After he passed in 2021, she continued to spend the next four summers in their mountain home - always looking forward to spending time with her Alpine friends.

Nancy embraced technology, having iPads, Kindles, I Phones, desktops and laptops. She learned to use them all effectively. Her grandchildren looked forward to her personalized birthday cards which she created on her computer, in addition to her frequent texts. Nancy was using her phone to videochat with family the day before she passed.

Nancy is survived by: her daughters, Laurie Moody (John) and Kathy Valencik; sons, Brian Bingham (Susan) and Bruce Bingham (Suzy); ten grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Holly Alexander and brother-in-law, Robert Berger. Her husband of 67 years, parents, and sister Beatrice Jean Slack, preceded her in death.

Per Nancy's request, she will be laid to rest at a later date in Alpine, Arizona.