Mildred A. Westergaard 1905-2012

WESTERGAARD LANDER JOHNSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/23/2012 at 12:21:52

Sioux City Journal
April 26, 2012

Mildred A. Westergaard, 106, of Sloan died Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at Pleasant View Care Center in Whiting, Iowa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Evangelical Covenant Church in Sloan, with the Rev. Richard Moore officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Albaton, Iowa. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service in Onawa, Iowa. Condolences may be sent online to www.rushfamilycareservicecom.

Mildred was born on June 24, 1905, in Albaton, rural Sloan, the daughter of Alfred and Emma (Lander) Johnson. She attended country school through the eighth grade, then went to Sloan High School, where she achieved her high school diploma in 1923. After graduation, Mildred studied at Morningside College for one semester and received her teaching certificate. She taught country school for several years at the Lakeport Township area of Sloan. She also worked for one year at a department store in Chicago, Ill. Later, she worked at the home of Charlie Worrell in Whiting, Iowa, where she met her future husband, who delivered milk to the house.

Mildred and Walter Westergaard were united in marriage on March 10, 1932, at the home of Charlie Worrell. They farmed in the Whiting area until 1945, then moved back to the family farm in rural Sloan that her father had farmed since 1885. Walter passed away in Onawa on Aug. 5, 1965. Mildred moved to the town of Sloan in 1968, during which time her son, Norman, moved to the family farm and has lived there ever since. Mildred became a resident of Pleasant View Care Center in 1998, where she thrived for 14 years.

Mildred was a lifelong member of the Evangelical Covenant Church and served on the Ladies' Aid. She greatly enjoyed gardening and baking, her specialty being Swedish rye bread. In fact, it was said that she made the best Swedish rye bread, quite an accomplishment.

Mildred is survived by a son, Norman Westergaard of Albaton, and special friend, Patricia Buser Provine of Onawa; six grandchildren, Nancy (Juan) Hernandez of Los Gatos, Calif., Debbie (Mark) Doran of Arvada, Colo., Marcia (Jay) Erickson of Windsor, Colo., Mike Andrew of Sioux City, Patti (Dan) Witten of Whiting, and Kris Westergaard of Sloan; 10 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Walter; a daughter-in-law, Marlene Westergaard; three brothers, Clarence, Theodore, and Edgar Johnson; and three sisters, Hazel Jacobson, Ada Neil, and Clara Ames.