Lake Forest Obituary: Barbara Jean Bergquist Stephens, 83

Barbara Jean Bergquist Stephens, 83, passed away on December 9, 2020.

She was born November 9, 1937, the only child of O. Einar and Agnes Bergquist. She earned a B.S. in Education from Northwestern University in 1959 and then taught school in Skokie, Illinois and Fanwood, New Jersey. She wed Charles Bennett Stephens, Jr. in 1961 and moved to Lake Forest in 1966. They had a wonderful married life with two children: Christine (Todd) Puch and Charles (Kate) B. Stephens III, both of Lake Forest. Barbara’s grandchildren - Alexander Puch, Robert Puch, Mary Stephens and Charles Stephens IV - were the light of her life. She saw them nearly every day and delighted in their companionship and accomplishments.

For a great deal of her life she held leadership positions in many civic and church organizations. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, the Junior League of Chicago, and secretary of the Northwestern University Alumnae Board. She was president of the Deer Path Junior High APT, Deerpath Questors, The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Panhellenic Association, and the Benton House Board. She was interested in gardening, collecting antiques and cooking elaborate family dinners.

Due to the pandemic, attendance at her 11 a.m. funeral on Thursday, December 17th will be limited to immediate family. However, for those who wish to attend virtually, the service will be live-streamed from The First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest at the following link: https://firstchurchlf.online.church/

Memorial contributions may be expressed to the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, 700 Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, Illinois, 60045 or Northwestern University, ATTN: Gift and Record Services, 1201 Davis Street, Evanston, Illinois, 60208. Info: Wenban Funeral Home, Lake Forest (847) 234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com