Verna Jean Nygaard

Verna Jean (Feiring) Nygaard August 14, 1931 - May 28, 2017 Verna Jean (Feiring) Nygaard, passed away peacefully at home on May 28, 2017 in Modesto, California. She was 85 years old. Verna was born to Martin and Julia (Aardahl) Feiring on August 14, 1931 in Williston, North Dakota. She graduated from Williston High School in 1949 and moved to Salinas, California. She married her high school sweetheart, LeRoy Nygaard in 1952. They were just shy of their 65 wedding anniversary when she went to be with the Lord. She worked for the Bank of America for many years, until starting a family. She was an active member of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd while in Salinas. Verna and LeRoy moved to Modesto, California in 1992 in anticipation of becoming grandparents. After moving to Modesto, Verna joined Centenary Church. She enjoyed going out to lunch with her friends and playing bunco, but her greatest passion was being a wife, mother and grandmother. She was known for her chocolate chip cookies and apple pie, and for having the patience of a saint while teaching her granddaughters how to make lefse. She never missed a softball game, soccer game or choir concert and was dearly loved by all who knew her. Verna was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings Orvin Feiring and Myrtle Bickford, Verna is survived by her husband, LeRoy Nygaard, who took loving care of her until the end. She is also survived by her children Randy Nygaard of Alpine and Marla McGregor (Tom) of Manteca, granddaughters Courtney Nawrocki, Brooke Nawrocki and Alexandra Nygaard, Tom's children TJ and Emily McGregor, and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Lakewood Funeral Home on Thursday, June 1st from 4:00-8:00 pm. A memorial service will be held at Centenary Church on Friday, June 2nd at 1:00 pm. Private burial will take place at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery. Remembrances can be made to Community Hospice or Centenary Church.