Betty Jean Nygaard

January 28, 1928 – September 7, 2018

Betty Jean Nygaard is now with our Heavenly Father. She passed away at Good Samaritan Health Care Center in Yakima, Wash. on Sept. 7, 2018. Betty was born on Jan. 28, 1928 in Los Angeles, Calif. to Leonard P. Cushen and Elizabeth (Bessy) Stilley Cushen. The youngest of their seven children, Betty grew up on the family farm near Twisp. The family later moved to Chelan where she graduated from high school. She loved cheerleading, dancing and singing in a trio with her good friends. After graduating she was rodeo queen for Chelan County and worked as a bank teller in Chelan.

In 1950 Betty married the love of her life, Joy A. Nygaard. They made their home in Bridgeport, Wash. where he was a new high school teacher and basketball coach. They had two children, Chris L. Nygaard born in 1951 and Rhodi E. (Nygaard) Tenney born in 1953.

Their next move was to Moses Lake, Wash. in 1957 where Betty ran the library at Longview Elementary School and Joy taught and became an elementary school principal for Lakeview Elementary School. They retired in Moses Lake and tried their hand for a short time at retail by opening up a Jeans n Things clothing store. They did this with good friends Jim and Carol Adamson.

Betty’s main love was the Lord. She was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Moses Lake. She participated in the choir and was a Stephen Minister, a deacon and an elder. She loved her friends there.

Betty moved to Yakima in 2012. She became a member of the First Baptist Comunidad Cristiana Church and rapidly developed a loving relationship with the members there.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Joy, her parents and her siblings. She is survived by her son Chris Nygaard, daughter Rhodi (Bob) Tenney and their sons David and Chris.

A special thank you to her church families, the Ponderosa Retirement Center folks and the Good Samaritan Health Care people.

We will celebrate Betty’s life at a later date. Her ashes will be with Joy’s. She is now with him in heaven. Praise be to God. To leave a message or memory for the family please go to www.brooksidefhc.com. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family.