Ouida Kathleen

Bergstrom

Ouida Kathleen Hudson Bergstrom of El Campo, Texas died on November 7th 2026 at the age of 96.

She was born November 27, 1929 in Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Texas to Gay Myers and Margaret McMahan Hudson. She was a woman of a different era – she regaled her family with tales of growing up during the Great Depression. Her parents were both educators and growing up on the Great Plains there were times that dust storms kept she and her older brother, Bud from leaving school and returning home. Her father would cut the front of her shoes so her toes would stick out, making everything last just a bit longer. She had fond memories of searching for arrowheads in the creek beds at Palo Dura Canyon with her brother along with family trips to Honeygrove, Texas to the Hudson homestead. The family moved to Brownwood, Texas during her elementary years and the siblings graduated from Brownwood High School before the family moved to El Campo, Texas where her father took the principal position at El Campo High School.

Ouida enrolled at East Texas State for college and became a registered nurse graduating from Lillie Jolly School of Nursing. She met the love of her life, Raymond, “Cotton” Bergstrom in El Campo and the two were married on November 17, 1951 at First Presbyterian Church. They built their life in El Campo and had two sons Michael Elliott and Russell Warren Bergstrom. They celebrated 57 years of marriage before Cotton’s passing in 2009.

Ouida started her first nursing job at Nightingale Hospital in El Campo, Texas eventually working at other clinics in El Campo before becoming the school nurse at Hutchins Elementary School for 18 years before “retiring” in 1985. She continued to work part-time well into her 80’s – she practiced full or part time for 57 years as a nurse. Never one to sit still, she was involved in many social activities in El Campo including the senior bowling league, senior trek, heritage center, playing dominoes and volunteering countless hours with the Sunshine Ladies at El Campo Memorial Hospital. She was a woman of strong Christian Faith. She and her family were active members of St. Paul United Methodist Church for over 60 years – singing in the choir, filling in for piano, teaching Sunday school and lectoring before the church eventually closed. She then joined First Methodist Church of El Campo where she was an active member and continued to go to service and Sunday school up until her passing. Ouida was an avid baker always making birthday cakes for her grand-children and great nephews yearly on their birthdays. She was also musically inclined and could be found practicing her hymns on her keyboard along with writing poetry to send to her loved ones. Ouida and Cotton loved to travel and went on many trips together during their retirement years. After his passing Ouida continued to travel with her family and was always up for an adventure, in the last year of her life she traveled to Niagara Falls in Canada, Palo Dura Canyon to revisit her childhood, Mexico Riveria and Lake Conroe. She was known by many names: Ouida, Queed, Mom, Grandma, Mamwee, Mamo, OKB and loved dearly by family and friends.

She is survived by her son Russell Bergstrom and wife Amy of El Campo; grandchildren Peyton Bergstrom and Emily Bergstrom Orr (Will); along with great-grandchildren Caroline, Juliet and John William, “Tripp”. She is also survived by her loving niece Debbie Reed and husband Buddy of Egypt; along with great-nephews Jacob Reed (Maranda), Will Reed, Caleb Reed (Kristy). Brother-in-law Willard Bergstrom and Sister-in-law Norma Neely (Bill) along with nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brother, husband - Cotton, and son - Mike.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 am Thursday, November 12, 2026 at First Methodist Church with funeral service at 11:00 am officiated by Pastor Beverly Schmidt and Pastor Derrick Blackmon. Burial will follow at Garden of Memories.

Arrangements under the direction of Wheeler Funeral Home.