[hypoxia]

OMG, I was totally wrong on this diagnosis!  The problem ended up being the cover plate at the top of the refrigerator that has the opening for the light switch.  It was loose and restricted the light switch movement intermittently. The display inside the refrigerator is simply backlighting, so if the inside lights don't work then the display disappears.  I "assumed" ( we all know what that means} the refrigerator didn't work since the compressor did not come on but in reality it was not cycled on. My head is on the Guillotine....