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Home » Alumni

Lasting Legacies

Bill '50 and Margaret Berry '50 Christensen

Bill '50 and Margaret Berry '50 Christensen were married shortly after they graduated from Northwest with degrees in education. Following Bill's service in the U.S. Army, the couple was happy to return "home" to Iowa where Bill taught high school science, math, driver education and physical education and coached basketball, football and track. Margaret taught social studies and physical education before raising their daughter.

Having experienced firsthand the impact that higher education played in their own lives, the Christensens, both Paul Harris Fellows in Rotary who live in Ottumwa, Iowa, included a provision in their estate plans to name Northwest as a beneficiary of their charitable trust.

"Northwest will always be special to us, and knowing that our gift will benefit those engaged in the pursuit and preparation of teacher education in the future is a wonderful tribute to our family's Northwest legacy," Bill said.

Naturally, the couple was pleased when their daughter, Cathy Forney '76, and grandson, Lucas Forney '03, chose to attend Northwest. As they still treasure their lifelong friendships and Northwest connections, the couple is hopeful that other alumni and friends will consider making a planned gift to assist future Bearcats in obtaining the Northwest experience.

One of the easiest planned gifts to create and implement is the will bequest. It allows you to give any percentage of your estate as a charitable gift when a current gift of real estate or cash might not otherwise be feasible.

Consider these advantages:

• You’re able to maintain control of your assets
• It provides a gift to Northwest in an amount you feel is appropriate, and you can still provide for your loved ones
• Estate tax deduction
• It’s simple to set up
• It provides for a cause you deem worthy at Northwest
• Includes membership in the James H. Lemon Heritage Society
• You leave a lasting legacy at Northwest

Contact the Northwest Foundation at advance@nwmissouri.edu or (660) 562-1248 to find out about the many advantages of providing an estate provision.