Dorothy Nygard

Dorothy Nygard, 98, West Fargo, formerly of Kindred, ND, died Thursday, May 17, at Eventide Sheyenne Crossings. Dorothy May Giddings was born in Fargo on January 2, 1920, the third daughter of Elmer and Lucy (Papke) Giddings. She grew up on their farm east of Davenport, ND, with her three sisters and one brother. She graduated from Kindred High School in 1936. On October 5, 1941, she married Floyd Nygard, and they farmed west of Kindred where they raised their three daughters. In 1976, Floyd’s health mandated his retirement from farming, and they moved into Kindred. Following his death in 1977, Dorothy continued to live in Kindred for the next two decades until she moved to West Fargo to be nearer her daughter. Finally, she moved to Sheyenne Crossings assisted living in 2008. Dorothy was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed quilting, needlework, gardening, and playing card games. She was baptized and confirmed at West Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Kindred, where she was active teaching Sunday School and served as Sunday School superintendent. She participated in and held many offices in the Ladies Aid/WELCA group during which time she tirelessly quilted and served countless lunches. She volunteered for many years as a seamstress at Bethany Homes in Fargo. She also kept busy as an active member and office holder of the Kindred Senior Citizens group. During her many years of widowhood, Dorothy enjoyed travels throughout the United States visiting family, as well as to Europe, Turkey, and even embarked on a Caribbean cruise with friends. She had an inquisitive mind and eagerly gleaned knowledge about the history of the places she visited. While living at Sheyenne Crossings, Dorothy kept herself busy putting together an untold number of jigsaw puzzles with the help of her friends. She also took home quite a few dimes as prizes from their Bingo games. Even as arthritis inhibited her physical activities, she maintained her zest for living and an active mind into her late 90s. In September 2017, Dorothy was diagnosed with colon cancer and bravely underwent major surgery at the age of 97. Although she survived the surgery, she was unable to return to full health, and a few months later, the cancer returned which ultimately took her life. Dorothy is survived by her daughters: Eileen (Joe) Morrison of Brea, CA, Carol (Allan) Currie of West Fargo, and Kristi (Curt) Leach of Dilworth, MN; her sister, Harriet Markos of Fargo, her brother, Alfred (Marilyn) Giddings of Cedar Crest, NM; her 6 grandchildren: Denise Ufkes of Highland, CA, and her adult daughters, Carrie of San Marcos, CA, Kristen (Jared) Johnson of Yucaipa, CA, and MaryAnn of Yucaipa, CA; David (Elisabeth) Vangsness of Roseburg, OR, and their adult children, Sam of Oakland, CA, Becky of San Diego, CA, and Joey of San Francisco, CA; Paul (Christina) Ganfield and their daughter, Heather, of Rochester, MN; Dawn Leach (Mickie Wild) of Bristol, England; Tanner Leach of Tempe, AZ; and Trista Leach of Moorhead. In 1988, she welcomed into her family 4 step grandsons, and they and their families also survive her: Shawn (Kumiko) Currie and their children, Joshua and Jacob, of Coral Springs, FL; Scott Currie of Walcott, ND; Curt, Jr. (Christina) Leach and their daughter, Brinsley, of Dilworth, MN; and Chad (Lindsey) Leach and their children, Aiden, Owen, and Autumn, of Glyndon, MN. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, her two sisters, Florence Tidball and Agnes Gubrud, her son-in-law, Gaylord Vangsness, and grandson-in-law, Phillip Ufkes. Visitation will begin Tuesday, May 29, at 5 p.m. followed by prayer service at 7 p.m. at the chapel in Sheyenne Crossings and will continue at Fredrikson-Boulger Funeral Chapel in Kindred, ND, at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, prior to the celebration of life at 2 pm. Burial will follow at West Prairie Cemetery, rural Kindred. The family sincerely thanks Eventide Sheyenne Crossings and Hospice of the Red River Valley for their compassionate care of Dorothy in her final months. The family prefers memorials in Dorothy’s name to West Prairie Free Lutheran Church, Kindred, ND, Hospice of the Red River Valley, or Eventide Sheyenne Crossings.