Mary Elizabeth Bergquist

Mary Elizabeth Bergquist, 88 years old, left this world for her eternal home in heaven on August 13, 2021. Mary was born in Menomonie, Wisconsin, the daughter of Elizabeth "Betty" Vogtsberger and Arnold Vogtsberger. She grew up in Menomonie where she was involved in many activities, but excelled at music, especially piano. At a young age she was already accompanying high school and even college choirs. After High School, she went to Saint Olaf College and studied music. After returning to Menominee from college, she taught piano and had up to 60 students at one time. In the late 1950s, a young architect named Lloyd Bergquist was sent by his firm to open a one person architectural office in Menomonie, Wisconsin. While he was singing in the church choir, he met Mary Vogtsberger. They were married on August 22, 1959. The couple moved to the Twin Cities area and eventually settled in Bloomington where they raised their three children Tom, Nancy and Jim. Mary and Lloyd joined Saint Stephens Lutheran church where they were active members for many years including both singing in the church choir. The family had four different exchange students stay with them each for several months. One of the students, Karin (Sanqvist) Brodin, requested that she spend the entire year with the Bergquist family, and became like a daughter to Lloyd and Mary and a sister to Tom Jim and Nancy. Mary was a sought after accompanist and accompanied many choirs over the years. This included the senior choir at Saint Stephens Lutheran Church in Bloomington, the Southwood Singers women's choir and the Angelica Cantanti Youth Choir. One of the highlights of her musical career was traveling with the choir as their accompanist during a several week tour of Europe one summer. She also started the youth choir at Saint Stephens Lutheran Church. Mary worked for many years as a paraprofessional, accompanying the choirs at Olson Middle School in Bloomington, and playing for many musicals. One of her favorite jobs was playing piano in the atrium of a large office complex in Bloomington, welcoming workers as they came to start their day. She received numerous compliments and even a few tips for this work. She also accompanied countless students as they played for auditions, juries and recitals, both instrumental and vocal. A friend of Mary's and a fellow musician commented about her musical skills, that whether the music was from the Baroque Era, secular, sacred or contemporary Mary was the best. Mary encouraged her children and later her grandchildren in their love of all things music. She and Lloyd had season tickets to the Minnesota Orchestra and attended many other musical and cultural events. She and Lloyd took many trips around the US and abroad and had friendships that spanned the globe. Mary was very generous with her time. She and Lloyd, volunteered for thousands of hours at the Minnesota Masonic Home. This often included playing piano for the residents, including the piece, which was her signature, "Somewhere over the rainbow". Above all though, Mary was a wonderful mother, wife and grandmother and great grandmother. She was always interested in and supportive of her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed their frequent visits and always asked each of them many questions about what they were up to and about their plans for the future. She is survived by her sister Betty Jo Solberg, brother Rich Vogtsberger, children Tom (Kathy) Bergquist, Nancy (Steve) Sizer, Jim (Molly) Bergquist, grandchildren Marc (Ashley) Sizer, Matthew (Swagata) Bergquist, Brenna Bergquist, Eric "Bubba" Sizer, Emily (Daniel) Degallier, Calli Sizer, Nicole Bergquist, Lily Bergquist, Nathan Bergquist and great grandchildren Reid and Charlotte Sizer. She was preceded in death by husband Lloyd.

Tributes

Mary Elizabeth Bergquist

February 17, 1933 - August 13, 2021

Tributes

Mary Elizabeth Bergquist

February 17, 1933 - August 13, 2021

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