Verna M. Tryggestad

Verna M. Tryggestad, 89, of Viroqua, died peacefully on Saturday April 9, 2011. She was surrounded by her family at the Bethel Home in Viroqua when Jesus decided to take her to heaven. She was born December 7, 1921 to Virgil and Winifred (Best) Christenson in Newton Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin. Verna was baptized at the age of 11 in the creek above Newton on the Morrison farm on July 13, 1932. She married Clair Tryggestad on April 3, 1941 at the West Prairie Lutheran Church Parsonage. The couple farmed on Nottingham Ridge their entire married life. Verna continued to reside there until February of 2010, when she went to live in an apartment in Viroqua. Verna was an active member at Bad Axe Lutheran Church, where she was a member of the Circle and Ladies Aid. She served as Superintendent for Bad Axe Sunday School and would often teach. Verna had been a 4-H leader for the Davis Diggers 4-H Club and taught children how to knit and crochet. She cooked at Nottingham school and an active member of the Bethel Home Auxiliary, of which she had been president. Verna enjoyed making lefse, knitting, crocheting and gardening - She especially loved her raspberries and flowers. She made endless quilts for her son and daughters, and every grandchild got a quilt also. She was a lady of many talents! She made countless wedding, birthday and graduation cakes, including those for all her children's weddings.

Survivors include a son Terry (Kathy) of Viroqua, three daughters Lorna (Charles) LeMay of Kenosha, Sharon (Brent) Olson of Viroqua and Deb (Frank) Easterday of Westby; one foster daughter Sonny (Richard) Lipold of Tonawanda, N.Y.; 11 grandchildren, three great grandchildren; 7 foster grandchildren; two sisters Iona Skrede of Viroqua and Marjorie Erickson of Westby; a sister-in-law Lilly Tryggestad of Viroqua and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Clair on June 14, 1990; a son in infancy Buford Clair Tryggestad and three brothers Darrell, Virgil "Junior" and Clair Christenson.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday April 13, 2011 at the Bad Axe Lutheran Church in Purdy, rural Viroqua. Rev. Don Greven will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley with a prayer service at 7 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until service time.