Goldie Eileen Nygaard, 88, of Sterling, died Feb. 16, 2012, in Sterling. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Chaney-Reager, with the Rev. Ed Bigler III officiating. Interment will be at 3:30 p.m. CST Feb. 21, at Grace Memorial Cemetery in McDonald, Kan.

Goldie was born Jan. 11, 1924, in a one-room sod house in McDonald to Henry Lee and Bertha (Banister) Hallagin. She graduated from high school in McDonald, and continued her education for one year at Hays, Kansas State University.

She was a homemaker, field hand, pipe player, housecleaner and café owner through the years.

On Dec. 2, 1944, she married Olav Nygaard in Englewood.

The Nygaard family was the 2009 NJC Family of the Year.

She enjoyed family, playing cards and board games.

Goldie is survived by her son, Lonell "Olie" Nygaard of Sterling and his family, Brandi Johnson of Fort Collins and Scott Stauffer of Greeley; son, Loyd Nygaard and wife Brenda of New River, Ariz., and their family, Heather and husband Adam of Sun City, Ariz., and Brandon, serving in the U.S. Army at Frankfurt, Germany; son, Nathan Nygaard and wife Shawna of Sterling and their family, Aislinn, Josie, Kjellaug, Felicity, Jason, Jamecia and Lexie of Sterling; sister, Ruby Waddill of Englewood; and one great-granddaughter to be whom Goldie never got to embrace.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Olav Nygaard in 1970; son, Barry Lane Nygaard; and nine brothers and sisters.

Memorials may be made to Relay For Life.