Betty L. Nygaard

DEFOREST – Betty L. (Swacina) Nygaard, age 82, moved on to her next great adventure, on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at home, surrounded by her loving family. Our family was deeply honored and privileged to care for our mother in her final days. A gift she gave to us. Betty was born on March 22, 1929, in Cloquet, MN, the daughter of the late George and Irene Swacina. She was a 1947 graduate of Stoughton High School. Betty married Maclaine A. Nygaard on July 11, 1948 at Central Lutheran Church in Stoughton, WI. In her early years, Betty worked at various jobs, but most enjoyed running an in home day care for many years in DeForest. Betty enjoyed playing cards, visiting the Mississippi River, and gambling at Ho Chunk with her husband. As her children grew up and moved out, Betty and Maclaine enjoyed each other’s company and enjoyed getting to know their grandchildren until Maclaine’s untimely death in 1994. In her later years, Betty enjoyed being at home in DeForest, visiting with her children, and traveling to Northern Wisconsin with good friends Jan and Fred Leuthold. Betty was also an avid bird lover and rarely passed up a chance to go birding with daughters Cynthia and Melissa. Betty was always dedicated and devoted to her husband and family. She was a loving and gracious mother, who taught the same to her children, and was the strength of our family. Betty will be dearly missed by her loving children: Deborah (Jill Fairchild), John, Cynthia, Melissa, Amy (Darrin) Marshall, and Peter (Lisa Lee) Nygaard; six grandchildren, Kendra (John) Hawkins, Kerensa Lacy, Austin and Dillon Nygaard, and Kegan and Tanner Marshall; five great-grandchildren, Aidan Shulfer, Lathan Hawkins, and Myana, Ajarae, and Kamaria Cystrunk; as well as her sister Joan “Honey #1” (Paul) Skalet, nephew David (Helen) Hoeft; close friend Sandra Braddock and family, sisters-in-law Henrietta Swacina and Theresa Nygaard, and many nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband Maclaine “Mickey/Mac”; three brothers, Clinton (Mavis), Douglas, and Gregory; and two sisters Muriel Beske and Faythe (Jim) Hrubesky. Betty’s final wishes of a small private celebration of her life will be honored by her children. Memorials may be made in Betty's memory to the Agrace HospiceCare, the Audubon Society or the public library of your choice. The family would sincerely like to thank those who have supported us during these final days with our mother. Special thanks to Agrace HospiceCare for their prompt response and compassionate care they gave our mother and our family.