Delores Nichelson

Delores Nichelson passed away in the presence of family on Monday, January 23, 2017.

Delores was born October 6, 1925 to parents Marilla (Moore) and Rudolph Rasmussen in Dilworth, MN. The Rasmussens and Moores were from the Ulen, MN area and they later moved to the Dilworth area, where Delores was born.

When Delores was around five years old, the family moved to north Moorhead. Her father continued to work for the Northern Pacific Railroad in Dilworth. Delores attended grade school at the Lincoln school and graduated from Moorhead High in 1943. After graduation, she worked in the office at Gamble Skogmo in Moorhead and was employed there until January of 1950.

When Delores was seven years old, Vern Nichelson’s family moved to the neighborhood. Vern was 10 years old and he joined the neighborhood gang and became Delores’ brother’s best friend. As Delores was growing up, she took part in many of the activities going on in her church, Calvary Baptist. One special activity was singing in the choir with her father, who loved to sing too.

When WWII was going on, her boyfriend, Vern, decided to enlist in the Air Force. He had always wanted to become a pilot, so he decided that was his chance. He reached his goal and became a B-24 pilot, stationed in Italy. He was honorably discharged in 1945. Vern and Delores were married June 27, 1947 in Fargo, ND, at Calvary Baptist church. Three children were born to them. She helped Vern start Nichelson Oil Company in 1959 until he retired in 1984, when their two sons took over the business. In 1955, they purchased property on Lake Melissa near Detroit Lakes. Delores’ brother, Gerald, and Vern built a cabin there and it has been their favorite vacation spot ever since.

Over the years, Delores served on many committees, was active in all the women’s organizations, and was very supportive of a number of missionaries around the world. She taught Sunday school and was also a part of the MOPS program for seven years.

Delores is survived by her children, Vance (Katie) Nichelson, Gary (Jana) Nichelson, and Sherry (Mike) Haecherl; six grandchildren, Lindsey (Isaac) Helmerich with great-grandson, Breaker, Ashley (Jake) Grundman, Brittany Nichelson, Josh Nichelson, Chad Haecherl, Alyssa Nichelson; sister, Joyce Fogderud, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vern; brothers, Gerald and Rudy, Jr.; and brother-in-law, Rev. Robert Nichelson.