Bernice F. Rygh

Bernice was born February 16th, 1921, in Rockford IL, the daughter of Hugo and Selma Nelson.

Bernice became a baptized Christian in her teens, and lived her faith strongly as an example throughout her long life. She was very active in the First Covenant Church in Rockford, IL, singing in the choir and participating in worship and Bible study regularly as a Sunday School teacher.

She went to business college and became a professional beautician, obtaining and running her own shop on Broadway in Rockford, IL in her early twenties. A professional woman owning a business was less common in that day, but Bernice had no concerns over being unusual and was a favorite hairdresser with many customers.

In 1949, at the age of 28, she married John Rygh of Woodford, WI. Another adventure began for her at this point, as she became the city-girl wife of a farmer. She raised 5 children, Anne (Michael) Hudgins, Christine (John) Pody, John T. (Nadine) Rygh, Lorna (David) Wilmer, and a foster son, Robert (Jacqueline) Poulson.

Bernice was a very creative woman, particularly at interior decorating, and sewing. She made every home she lived in brand-new. She wall-papered, painted, sanded floors, and recovered furniture. She became so skilled at upholstering that she became a teacher of this art at Blackhawk Technical College.

She sewed beautiful prom dresses, wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses for her daughters. She made quilts and crocheted blankets.

Bernice was also an able economist, keeping farm books and the ledgers of other persons entrusting her for many years.

Above all, Bernice was a homemaker and mother. She could brighten a little girl’s eyes with hand-made doll clothes at Christmas, even though as a child she never owned a doll. She made sure of an electric train set for a little boy. She tolerated and encouraged the intolerable din of music lessons, and successfully tutored algebra and geometry lessons even though she never had a high-school diploma. She and her husband opened their home to numerous children who came and then stayed for a while; a foster son, nieces, nephews and neighbors.

When grandchildren arrived, Bernice filled the house with toys of all kinds, including a stuffed elephant four feet tall and a doll exactly the height of a 3 yr old. Her home was a joy to children.

Bernice is survived by 7 grandchildren, Holly, Sarah and John Pody, Jesse, Luke and Naomi Lafferty, and Terra Rygh. She has 3 great-grandchildren, Cole and Trevor Lafferty, and Taylor Rygh.