Terry Rae Nygren

Terry Rae Nygren, former development director of the Sheldon Museum of Art, died Aug. 27. She was 64.
Nygren was Sheldon’s development director from Oct. 1, 2002, through May 28, 2007.

She was a founding member of the Friends of the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center and served a number of terms on the group’s board, including a term as president. She also was a member of the Haydon Art Gallery board.
Nygren earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UNL. She studied for a year at the University of Paris.
Nygren worked at the Sheldon Film Theater (precursor to the Ross Media Arts Center) for director Danny Lee Ladely, organizing film tours that were shown statewide.

“She was an ardent supporter of The Ross and a dear friend to many of us,” Ladely said. “We’ll miss her greatly.”
During her career, she held positions at Doane College, Wichita State University, the St. Louis Art Museum and the Kansas City Art Institute. She was executive director of the Columbian Theater and Art Center in Wamego, Kan., during its restoration.

Nygren is survived by her sons and their spouses Jim Nygren and Angela Grime, Laird and Colleen Nygren; grandchildren, Devin and Carl Nygren and Sydney Grime; mother, Zina Foudray of South Bend, Neb.; sister and spouse, Bonnie and Dave Vodehnal of South Bend; brother and spouse, Sam and Barbara Foudray of Phoenix; and extended family and cadre of friends.

Memorials are suggested to The Friends of the Ross, 313 N. 13th St., Lincoln, NE 68508; First-Plymouth Congregational Church, 2000 D St., Lincoln, NE 68502; or St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Foundation, 6900 L St, Lincoln, NE 68510.