Nancy Erlene Nelson

Nancy Nelson passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 29, 2016, at Rosewood Nursing Home in Fargo following many years with Alzheimer’s disease. A kind, patient, and gentle soul, she strongly believed in Angels, and is now among them.

Nancy was born in Valley City, North Dakota, on March 6, 1933. She graduated from high school there and married Jim Nelson of Svea Township in 1952. They moved to Fargo following completion of his enlistment in the Navy where Jim joined the North Dakota Air National Guard. Jim and Nancy enjoyed nearly 62 years together, the last two at Rosewood until Jim’s passing in June of 2014. They lovingly raised two children, Scott and Julie, and enjoyed many great times with longtime friends and neighbors in north Fargo. The neighborhood 4th of July parties were major north side social events! They were also 50 year members of Messiah Lutheran Church.

In addition to being a great mom, loving grandmother and great-grandmother, Nancy was widely known as an excellent alteration seamstress and fabulous cook. Her primary passion was baking, with cookies, cakes, pies and bars being her specialties. She loved to provide a plate full of warm chocolate chip cookies to greet the kids coming home from school, (or to help fuel conversations at innumerable neighborhood “coffee parties”). Her grandchildren also quickly learned that the cookie jars were always full in Grandma’s kitchen! Nancy also loved and spoiled her cocker spaniels, with three ruling the household for well over 30 years. In her later years, her last pet, a lucky adopted cat named Maggie, also brought her special joy.

Nancy is survived by son, Scott (Bonnie), Edina, MN; daughter, Julie (Kirk) Hawley, Fargo; grandchildren: David (Shasta) McDowell; Amanda (Jeremy) Leichtenberg, West Fargo; Shannon (Jeff) Betz, Cheney, WA; Ian Nelson, Portland, OR; Annie Nelson, Chicago, IL; and great–grandchildren: Hana McDowell, Emma Leichtenberg, Ashlyn and Makenzie Leichtenberg, and Colton Betz; and sister, Grace Olsberg, Moorhead, MN.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association, Fargo Humane Society or Messiah Lutheran Church.

We would also like to especially thank the staff at Rosewood for the excellent care Nancy received during her last several years.