Nancy Lynn Ferentchak

Nancy Lynn Ferentchak, 68, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully January 4, 2022 in Elsinore, UT surrounded by family after a hard-fought battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Eric Ferentchak; brother, Rodger Dale Clark, and children Randy Ferentchak (Cindy), Rebekka/Bekki Andersen (Ken), Stacy Kuszmaul (D.J.), and Lisa Ferentchak (Quincy); grandchildren Summer and Ben Andersen, Gracie, Addison, and Olivia Kuszmaul, Nayomi Jones, Zack and Bailey Polson and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Rollan Wayman Clark; mother, Dorothy Mae Sherill; and brother, Larry Wayman Clark. Nancy was born on April 18, 1953 in Gardena, Calif. and grew up in Hawthorne, Calif., where her parents lived until their passing and where they celebrated the birth of many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; today, Nancy’s brother Rodger resides at the house her parents bought in 1944 to raise their children. In 1971, Nancy graduated from Hawthorne High School, several years after The Beach Boys did; she loved telling the story of how the band returned to play for her high school prom. Soon after graduating, Nancy met Eric when he came to see a movie at the local theater where she was working. Stationed at the Long Beach Naval Complex, he was immediately smitten with her and did not hesitate to ask her out on a date. Nancy and Eric married in Hawthorne, Calif. on December 2, 1972. In their early years, they lived in Hawthorne, Calif. (welcoming Randy), San Diego, Calif. (welcoming Bekki), and San Jose, Calif. In 1979, they moved to Sultan, Wash. (welcoming Stacy) and within a couple of years moved to Bellingham, Wash. (welcoming Lisa), where they resided for the next 22 years. Nancy worked as secretary for Immanuel Lutheran Church in Everson, Wash. for many years and developed a wonderful family of friends through the Church. In 2003, Nancy and Eric sold the family home and moved to Butte, Mont., where she then worked part time in food service as “the lunch lady” for Emerson Elementary School. Part-time work and grown kids allowed Nancy to immerse herself in her passions of sewing, quilting, cooking, and gardening in Montana. She particularly found great joy in sewing and quilting, her passion being so infectious that Eric, after his retirement in 2009, became an avid quilter himself, and, together, they took up collecting and refurbishing antique sewing machines for fun. Nancy’s most prized space was her sewing room in the basement. Nancy’s mother, Dorothy, had taught her to sew when she was young. Nancy often talked about how, in high school, she sewed all of her outfits and would use what little money she had to buy matching shoes. Nancy generously shared the fruits of her labor with immediate and extended family and was always eager to sew outfits, bags, blankets, and toys for her grandchildren. In recent years, her quilts earned her several first-place ribbons at local quilting shows, events that she and Eric thoroughly enjoyed experiencing and helping to coordinate when they could. In addition to sewing and quilting, Nancy loved to cook and was hands down the favorite chef in the family. She could make a delicious casserole on any budget and from whatever ingredients were available. She seldom used a recipe, even for the most complex of dishes, as the flavors, textures, and smells she desired were to be her creations. Visitors could always count on a hot meal when they came to visit. Nancy never let anyone fend for themselves. Nancy’s green thumb was a source of nourishment for her family since their early days in Bellingham. There, Nancy would grow gardens the size of fields and blanch and can enough vegetables and berries to fill the basement storage room and deep freezers for years. She was a wealth of knowledge about all things gardening, and she delighted in the process of selecting and planting seeds, watering and fertilizing her plants, and watching them grow. While Butte did not have the best of soil, her green thumb always found its way. Nancy approached life one day at a time, finding happiness in simple pleasures. In addition to her passions, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and many grand doggies, watching wildlife through her binoculars on the front porch of the family cabin (what she called her “nature channel”), being outdoors surrounded by beautiful mountains and scenery, sipping an evening glass of pink wine, and watching classic mystery shows. She truly loved her family and friends, and she always made sure that everyone was taken care of before herself. All who knew Nancy knew her unforgettable laugh, etched forever in the memories of those who had the good fortune to work with her, raise kids alongside her, and share life with her. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, and she was among the best of listeners and cheerleaders for her family. She will be dearly missed. Throughout it all, she remained positive and upbeat, and her family will always admire the strong, caring and compassionate person she was no matter what she faced in life. Per her request, no formal services will take place.