March 10--The Iowa farmer put a ring on the Chicago fertility nurse Monday in the season finale of ABC's "The Bachelor."
Chris Soules chose Whitney Bischoff over Becca Tilley, a chiropractic assistant from San Diego, and then got down on one knee and proposed to Bischoff. To no one's surprise, Bischoff said yes.
Bischoff was billed from Chicago on the show but is originally from Kentucky and has a noticeable Southern accent.
"I moved to Chicago about six years ago because my sister was living there at the time," Bischoff said Tuesday during a conference call. "I wanted to be closer to family."
She is employed by aParent IVF Laboratory in Highland Park, which proudly posted photos of Bischoff and a "congratulations" message for the engaged couple Monday on its Facebook page.
"We always thought she was the complete package," said aParent founder Colleen Wagner Coughlin Tuesday over the phone. "She's darling, personable and patients always loved her. She was dating but wasn't finding the right fit. We gladly gave her a leave of absence. All the team members were very supportive."
Bischoff continued to work full time at aParent after returning from the show, but her responsibilities had changed. She took on the role of egg freezing coordinator, which allows her to work from anywhere.
"We did find out (she was engaged) when she came back," Wagner Coughlin said. "Only two of us knew. She was honest with us so that we could figure out how she could follow the man she loves and maintain her career."
The couple will live in Los Angeles while Soules competes on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." After that? Bischoff has made it clear that she plans on moving to Arlington, Iowa to be with Soules.
How will living on a farm in Arlington compare to living in Chicago?
"I think it's going to be an adjustment and a change," Bischoff said. "But it's something that I'm up for. I'm excited."
