Nancy Lucille Bertrand

At 69 years-old, Nancy Lucille (McClaskey) Bertrand reached the end of her many physical struggles on Monday, January 3, 2022 at St. Mary’s Hospital. This spunky, ornery, loving, big-hearted woman was born number 11 in the line of siblings, to Otto and Emma McClaskey at home in New Castle, Colorado on February 19, 1952. Her family roamed all over Colorado before settling in Grand Junction when she was in elementary school. Nancy graduated from Central High School in 1970. To pay for her senior pictures she packed pears at a local orchard. She worked as a teacher’s aide at the Riverside School and talked about taking hot coffee or tea out to the teachers who were on strike. She made signs at Montgomery-Wards until she hurt her shoulder. During her recovery, Nancy worked in the secretarial office. Once healed the lead secretary refused to let her return to the floor. The Spendrup Fan Company hired her as an office manager, or “Supreme Smarty Pants,” where she kept everyone in line including the boss.

In 1979 she met the love of her life at a bonfire and married David Bertrand July 12, 1980. Three years later, she traded office work to become a domestic engineer with the title of Mom. Even though Jessica and Adam made her a mother, she soon became Mom Nancy to Damion and a whole list of others she soon adopted. If she could help someone, she was the first one to do so without hesitation, including babysitting so couples could have a date night. Loving on family and reading were her two big hobbies. At some point she had piano lessons, but used to say she played the radio and still got static.

Nancy loved Jesus from an early age. Her faith continued to grow stronger as her body weakened. Growing up she and her family piled in the truck after a long day at work on the interstate near Idaho Springs and went to hear Billy Graham preach in Denver. Another time the family jumped into a dump truck to make it to church. Or they drove from Gateway all the way into Grand Junction to spend the day at services and in town. She participated in slumber parties at Trinity Baptist, helped start the church plant that became New Covenant Baptist (where she’s attended full time since 1991), and played on the volleyball team for a few years while attending Monument Baptist. She was loved as the “Grandma without an ear.”

Her parents – Otto and Emma, her brothers – Orville and Larry, her sisters – Norma and Barbara, and grandson Gabriel, all preceded her in death. David, Adam, Chelsey, Zoey, Abbey, Damion, Randi, Braydon, Kynzlee, Jessica and a whole host of family, church family and friends will endeavor to live without her.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be sent to any of the following: New Covenant Baptist Church in Grand Junction, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering through the International Mission Board, Annie Armstrong Easter Offering through the North American Mission Board, or you can go buy a Bible and give it to someone else.