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IN MEMORIAM
HELEN NYBERG
Ms. Helen Nyberg, beloved missionary to
Eastern Ky for more than 60 years, passed away quietly
at home on Sunday Morning Feb. 20th. . She was 90 years
old.
Ms. Nyberg continued to be active in service to the Lord
long after she was physically able. She has bravely
battled serious illness for over seven years, begining
with congestive heart failure in October 1997, then
breast cancer in 2000 and further cancer surgery in
2002.
Ms. Nyberg was born on a farm near Polk, Nebraska. She
and her five brothers were the children of Swedish
immigrants Olaf and Mary Nyberg. They grew up in a
Swedish community and the Evangelical Free Church was a
central feature in their lives.
Helen attended Bible College at the Free Church School
in Chicago, Ill. In 1941, the summer after her
graduation, she came to the hills of Eastern Ky. To help
with vacation bible school. She originally intended to
visit only for a summer but she fell in love with the
area and believed God was calling her to stay.
Ms. Nyberg's full time work as a missionary began at a
Sunday School in Breedings Creek. She was joined by a
missionary partner named Mildred Newkist. In 1948, Ms.
Newkist left for the mission field in China and Ms.
Helen Johnson, another young lady of Swedish decent
replaced her.
The Sunday School was able to move into a vacant Church
building at Cody, Ky. In 1947. Members of the community
helped remodel and repair the Church. In the 1950's,
"The Helens" and the rest of the congregation formally
organized Cody Bible Church. One of the first two
members was a young girl from Smithsboro, Glenna Belle "Teda"
Smith. Through the years, she became an imprtant part of
the Helen' ministry.
Helen Nyberg and Helen Johnson lived for more than 10
years in an apartment in the Church. In the late 1960's,
when the construction of Carr Creek Lake scattered their
community, "the Helens" moved to Brinkley to live with
their friend Teda Smith, who had become an elementary
school teacher. Their mutual love of God and dedication
to sharing His love with children cemented their
friendship and the three continued to live in the same
house for more than 30 years. It was in this home that
Helen Nyberg died.
In her 60-plus years as missionary to Knott County and
Eastern Ky., Helen Nyberg's ministry included teaching,
directing Vacation Bible School, leading youth
ministries and ladies' missionary fellowships and
working with Bible Camps(Twin Rocks Camp and Camp
Nathanael).
Ms. Nyberg was inducted into the Knott County Hall of
Fame in 1994. She was honored by friends with
celebrations at Cody Bible Church for her 40th , 50th
and 60th anniversaries of service to the area.
Ms. Nyberg's love of God spilled into a great love for
others. In her final years, her happiest moments were in
the company of friends
- and she had many.
Services for Helen Nyberg were planned for Tuesday
evening at Hindman Funeral Services and her funeral was
held today(Wednesday, Feb. 23rd ) at 10am at Cody Bible
Church. The Times will publish more on Ms. Nyberg next
week.
Submitted by Slade Cook
From: The Troublesome Creek Times
tct@troublesomecreektimes.com |
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