Date of Birth:
Friday, January 28, 1944
Date of Death:
Friday, June 27, 2025
Age:
81 years old

Sarah “Sally” Elizabeth Berthusen

Sarah “Sally” Elizabeth Berthusen, 81, of Rockford, Illinois passed away peacefully on Friday, June 27, 2025. She was born on January 28, 1944, in Jamestown, New York to the late Walter Pryor and Frances Harriett (Peebles) Nickle. On September 11, 1964, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Illinois, Sally married Eugene “Gene” Everett Berthusen who survives her and was the love of her life, her confidante, and her very best friend. They were married for more than 60 years. Sally was a nurse and began her nursing education at Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago. After moving with Gene for a new job in California, she transferred and completed her nursing degree at California State University Long Beach in 1967. Sally and Gene welcomed four girls, and she devoted herself full-time to their family. To Sally, family was everything. She especially loved watching her grandchildren grow, hosting family dinners around her harvest table, and planning adventurous vacations. When her children were older she returned to nursing at Dr. Charles Washington’s family practice and later at the River Bluff Nursing Home. She was most comfortable serving quietly and privately and spent many nights sitting with residents at the end of their lives. Sally is survived by four daughters: Jane (Peter) Gottlick of Rockford, Amy (Mike) Bliss of Rockford, Katie (Paul) Zak of Naperville, and Carrie (Jim) Longfield of Byron, Minnesota; twelve grandchildren: Elena Gottlick, Sophia Gottlick (Georgia McKee), Sarah (George) Alexander, Grant (Kelsey) Bliss, Caroline Zak, Christine (Shane) Huffaker, Laura Zak, Timothy Zak, Alexia Longfield, Caden Longfield, Whitney Longfield, and Elizabeth Longfield; brother Andy (Tina) Nickle; brothers and sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. We thank God for the gift of this wonderful woman in our lives. A service celebrating Sally’s life will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2821 N. Bell School Road, Rockford, IL and will be followed by the inurnment in the Westminster Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden Columbarium. Family and friends are invited to gather afterwards to share memories of Sally. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rockford.