Thursday, October 1, 2026
Leola May “Bergquist” Bagwell, age 85 went home on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at the home of her daughter Joyce and family where she resided for the last five years of her life following a long battle with Dementia. She was born on March 19, 1940 to Edwin Olaf Bergquist and Beatrice Bell “Gibson” Bergquist in Little Falls Minnesota. She was the third of four children. Leola also had four brothers by her mother’s second marriage.
Leola’s family moved to the now defunct military base in Igloo, South Dakota for her father’s job. Growing up on the base was definitely a unique experience, and she always talked about the tight-quartered base housing and being sure to have your pass to show at the gate. Leola talked affectionately about the Osterholt family that she moved in with as a young teenager to nanny their three children. She then moved to her mother’s in Wenatchee, Washington.
Leola met the love of her life, Clifford Bagwell, at a dance held at the Fancher Heights Airport in August 1956, and they married two months later on October 4, 1956. They Started married life in Wenatchee but moved to Cashmere prior to the birth of their first son, Calvin, in 1958 followed by a daughter, Brenda in 1959.
After a few years of town living, they bought what was affectionately named “The Funny Farm” in a rural part of Cashmere. After settling into country living, they then welcomed a second son, Paul, in 1968 and lastly a daughter, Joyce, in 1970.
Leola was a happy stay-at-home mom and was a caregiver at heart always ready to help babysit neighbor kids, drive family to doctor’s appointments, offering a helping hand when people were sick or recovering, and taking in many kids and families when they needed to have a place. Opening their home to people in need was her and Clifford’s mutual ministry. Leola was a Christian from a young age who lived it in service and witness.
Leola and her husband, both coming from families that had experienced divorce, were committed from the start to never allow that to happen to their children. They accomplished that celebrating over 60 years of marriage.
Leola was preceded in death by her husband (Clifford), Parents (Edwin and Betty), In-laws whom she loved like her own (Bill and Audrey), her sisters (Audrey and Ardith), three brothers (Ron, Gary, and Reggie), one nephew and three nieces. She is survived by her four children Calvin, Brenda (Norman), Paul (Brenda), and Joyce (Ken), Brother (Walter), Brother (Ken), Eleven Grandchildren and Eleven Great-Grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life for Leola will be held Saturday, April 18 at 1pm at Cornerstone Christian Church located at 12 North Chelan Street in Wenatchee, Washington.
