William Nygren, D.D.S. (OMS ’63)

Dr. William C. Nygren, 83, passed away on Nov. 15, 2018. He was born on March 24, 1935 in Braham, Minn., to Dr. William T. and Clarice Nygren. Bill grew up in Braham and had pleasant childhood memories of hunting and fishing with his father. He also learned to trap, and one day on his trap line he was treed by wolves. During the summers, he helped with chores on his grandfather’s farm, where he drove draft horses pulling the hay wagon to the barn during haying season.

Dr. Nygren studied at the University of Minnesotaand completed his residency in oral surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He married Mary Brown and moved to Oregon where he served as the oral surgeon for the Klamath Basin and Lakeview areas. In 1978 he bought a ranch near Dairy where he and his sons farmed for over a decade. In his later years, Bill practiced as a dentist in Bonanza.

Bill enjoyed hunting and fishing. His favorite activity was bow hunting for mule deer at Hart Mountain. He was also a talented wood craftsman and made beautiful tables and benches. He trained his Golden Retriever “Taffy” as a bird dog and his second Retriever “Goldie” as an obedience trial dog.

Bill is survived by his children Tamera (Richard) Lewis, Dan (Dorothy) Nygren, Tracey (Jeff) Leslie, Beth (Scotty) Bischoff, and Pete (Jennifer) Nygren and by his grandchildren James, Nichole, Matthew, Zachary, Luke, Kolt, Reece and Colton; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Dr. Robert C. Nygren. His dog Goldie is now living with a daughter.

Bill passed away at his home in the Bonanza area. We thank his caregivers and friends in the Bonanza community who made his retirement years happy and helped him stay in his home until the end. At his request no services are planned. His ashes will be scattered at the Hart Mountain antelope refuge.