Obituary: Lenore "Lennie" Josephine Olds Bergevin

November 3, 1915 - January 13, 2011

Lenore Josephine "Lennie" Bergevin, 95, passed away Jan. 13, 2011, at Evergreen Convalescent Care Center after a short illness. Before moving to Evergreen three years ago she lived in Gardnerville, living in that residence for well over 60 years. She lived in Gardnerville from the age of 3 until entering the Evergreen Center. Lennie was born in 1915 in Fredericksburg, Alpine Co., Calif., to Merritt J. and Martha E. (Stuard) Olds, one of four children. Lennie came from pioneering stock as the Olds family moved to Nevada in the late 1850s. She was a 1933 graduate of Douglas County High School, Gardnerville.

She was asked by the local telephone company to work for them at the age of 15. Upon graduating from high school she started working full time for the telephone company and after 34 years of service with a time out to raise children, she retired as Chief Telephone Operator in 1975.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ted Bergevin; daughter Donna Steele; sons Phillip Bergevin and Teddy Bergevin; a grandson Paul Curtis; and a great-granddaughter Jessica Curtis; sisters Louise Olds Averill and Jessie Olds Averill; and brother Merritt Olds. She is survived by daughters Marcia Bernard (David) and Linda Curtis (Michael) both of Carson City; seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, one niece and one nephew.

She was a member of Carson Valley United Methodist Church for more than 64 years, Esther Chapter No. 3 Order of the Eastern Star for more than 63 years, board member for Carson Valley No. 13 International Order of Rainbow for Girls, charter member and first Worthy High Priestess of the Sierra Sage Shrine, White Shrine of Jerusalem, Ammon-Ra Temple No. 56 Daughters of the Nile, Independent Telephone Pioneer Association, Sierra Silver Wheels trailer club, and Sierra Nevada Good Sam trailer club.

She was a devout Christian and dedicated many years of her life to her family, church and fraternal organizations. Besides a very successful career, she will be remembered fondly by many people who worked for her and with her during their high school years and many through their working careers. She spent happy years traveling in her RV where she and Ted made lasting friendships. She will be remembered as a gracious, caring and loving person throughout her life.

The family is extremely grateful to the staff at Evergreen for their love, care and dedication to Lennie during her final stay there. Thanks are also extended to Vista Care Hospice during her End of Life Care.

A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 at the Carson Valley United Methodist Church in Gardnerville. Walton's Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, Lennie requested that Carson Valley United Methodist Church be remembered.