Leola M. Bergskoog

Funeral services for Leola M. Bergskoog will be conducted from the First Baptist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Darren Stroh officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Leola Marie Bergskoog, 73 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Friday, May 20, 2011 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Leola was born August 29, 1937 on the family farm northwest of Macon in Franklin County, Nebraska, the youngest of three children of Pope W. and Rosina A. (Kuster) Frerichs. Leola was baptized and confirmed at the Zion Lutheran Church at Macon. She received her primary education through the eighth grade from District #59 near Macon and graduated from Hildreth High School with the class of 1955.

Following her education, Leola was employed the by Peterson Hospital in Holdrege as a nurse's aide, and continued her employment there as a secretary. On June 1, 1958 she was united in marriage to Robert C. Bergskoog and to this union two children were born: Keri and Chris. The family made their home in Holdrege. Throughout the years, Leola was also employed at Bob and Norm's Flooring, Kingsley Lumber and then at the Phelps County Sheriff's Department as a dispatcher and office manager until her retirement. Throughout this time she also served as the bookkeeper and office manager for their family business, Bergskoog Welding Co.

For several years, Leola was challenged by her health with Polycystic Kidney Disease and numerous other health issues. She always fought with tremendous strength and underwent a kidney transplant in the fall of 2006 and was admired by her family and friends for her encouragement during tough times.

Leola always put others first in her life, was a caregiver to her family during their time of need, and her family and friends will remember her as a caring and loving person who was always there as a listener.

She loved the time spent with her bowling league team, and enjoyed reading and music.

She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, John Grube; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Carl and Della Bergskoog; brother, Kenneth Frerichs; and sister-in-law, Sandra Bergskoog.

She is survived by her husband, Robert of Holdrege; daughter, Keri Bennett and her husband, Kevin of Kearney, Nebraska; son, Chris Bergskoog of Holdrege; brother, Clyde Frerichs and his wife, Lela of Franklin, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Charleen Frerichs of Kearney; and a host of other relatives and cherished friends.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in her memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.