Obituary of Bernadette Westegaard

WESTEGAARD BERNADETTE

Bernadette Westegaard, age 93 of Yankton, SD passed away Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD, with family at her side.  Visitation will be Friday, March 22, 2024, from 5:00-7:00 pm with a 7:00 pm rosary service all at Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home in Yankton. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am, Saturday, March 23, 2024, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Yankton with Rev. Joe Forcelle officiating. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Yankton. Online condolences may be sent at www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. Online streaming of Bernadette’s services can be viewed at https://my.gather.app/remember/bernadette-westegaard.

Bernadette Jeanne Dangel was born August 29, 1930, on the family farm in Turner County, SD to John G. and Sylvia (Andersen) Dangel.   She received all of her early Sacraments just one mile from that farm at St Boniface Catholic Church, Idywilde.   She attended grade school at Salem #99, rural Freeman, and high school at Mount Marty High School in Yankton, graduating in 1948.  After earning her teaching certificate from Notre Dame Academy in Mitchell, SD, she worked as a country grade school teacher in Turner County.  While teaching, she met the love of her life, Arland Eugene Westegaard, when he came to do electrical work at a school where she was teaching.   They married October 3, 1951, at her childhood church and were married 69 ½ years until Arland’s passing in early 2021.

Arland and Bernadette farmed in the rural Freeman area, where they welcomed nine children.   In December of 1966, they moved to Yankton, SD.   Bernadette worked as full time Mom until all children entered school.  She then worked for Bill’s Dairy Bar for a number of years during the school day, but was home by the time school was dismissed, making sure all her children checked in with her after school.  After her children were older, she worked at Sr James Nursing Home in Yankton as a nursing assistant until she retired.

Bernadette’s greatest pride and joy in life was her family and she greatly enjoyed family gatherings. She hosted many wonderful, large family meals.   She delighted at the arrival of each grandchild and great-grandchild.   She also loved playing fiddle, and her fiddling skills earned her the name “Grandma Fiddle” from her grandchildren.  She brought great joy to many by performing on WNAX, at local nursing homes, fairs and other events.   She participated many years in the annual SD Old Time Fiddler’s Contest, usually coming away with a top place, including Women’s State Champion more than once.

Bernadette is survived by her nine children: Angela (Roger) Hejl, Yankton, SD; Joan (Bill) Sathe, Eaton, CO; Charles, Spokane, WA; Marietta (Deldean) Bjorklund, Norfolk, NE; Paul, Yankton, SD; Donald (Linda) Otis Orchard, WA: Sheila (Scott) Hammond, Mitchell, SD; Karen, Sioux Falls, SD; and Linda (Tim) Shumaker, Vermillion, SD.  She is also survived by four sisters: Monica Falter, Norfolk, NE; Sr Anna Dangel, Yankton, SD; Mary Slowey, Yankton, SD, Rose (Clarence) Hauger, Yankton, SD, sister-in law Doris (Darwin) DeVries, 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Arland, her brother, Leo Dangel, and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, or St Boniface Cemetery, Idywilde, or Avera @ Home Hospice.   The family would also like to extend their extreme gratitude to the staff of the Sr James Care Center for the kind and professional care given to our Mom over the past five years.