Laura E. Mcshane

Laura McShane, 33, passed away on Friday, July 20, 2012 after a valiant four and a half year battle against a rare form of cancer. She spent her final time with family and friends before going to her heavenly home.

Laura Elaine Nelson was born April 5, 1979 to Richard and Margaret (Bowers) Nelson in Bismarck, North Dakota. She was raised in Mandan where she graduated from high school in 1997. In 2001, Laura graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing. It was soon after graduation that she started working at OneMain Financial. She was branch manager in Fargo at the time of her death.

On June 21, 2003, Laura married her soul mate and best friend, Ross McShane. They made their home in Fargo. This union was blessed by twins, Macy Taylor and Dylan Jackson on January 2, 2007. Laura found a genuine passion in being a mother. She loved playing with her children and nurturing them. She dreamed of a day when she was healthy and could coach their soccer team. Laura loved to watch Macy dance and Dylan play hockey. She loved listening to them tell of their day and she loved to see their art projects.

Laura cherished life. She valued each moment and the beauty in each day. Laura took pleasure in the simple moments of daily life and in milestones accomplished by her children. She enjoyed being at the lake with her family and taking family vacations. In January she was able to go to Disneyland with Ross, Dylan, Macy, her parents, brothers and their families. Through her lifetime and especially her battle against cancer, Laura inspired and touched many lives. She was featured as the Forum’s Beautiful Woman in June and as her story was brought to the masses, her inspiration touched many she'd never even met. Laura has inspired many of us to appreciate how precious life is and to live it as best we can.

Laura is survived by her husband, Ross McShane, and children Macy and Dylan, Fargo; her parents Rick and Margaret Nelson, Vergas, Minn.; brothers Matt (Westie) Nelson, Fargo and Lee (Nancy) Nelson, Steamboat Springs, CO; niece and nephew Alyssa and Austin Nelson, Fargo; grandmother Delores Nelson, Fargo; father and mother-in-law Phil and Jennifer McShane, Fargo; brother-in-laws Ryan (Becky) McShane, Fargo and Luke McShane, Fargo; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.