Thief River Falls - Mabel Nelson, 83, died Saturday, June 13, 1998 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. today (Wednesday, June 17) at the Evangelical Free Church in Thief River Falls with Reverend Edsel Lindquist officiating. Audrey Hanson will be the organist, and vocal music will be provided by Jennifer Halverson. Casketbearers will be Harvey Hanson, Richard Kruta, Dean Ornquist, Wayne Nelson, James Hutchinson and Luvern Sorter. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls.
Visitation was held from noon to 7 p.m. on Tuesday with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls and for one hour prior to services on Wednesday.
Mabel E. Curtiss was born on June 5, 1915 to George and Minnie (Wagner) Curtiss on a farm near Middle River on what is now Aggasiz National Wildlife Refuge. Mabel's family moved to a farm in Whiteford township in Marshall county where she grew to adulthood. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended country school. Mabel's childhood home was destroyed by a tornado, and a new home was rebuilt there. Mabel worked for many years for area farm families, taking care of their children.
On October 6, 1934 she married Leonard Nelson in Holt. The couple farmed near Middle River until 1957 when they moved to Thief River Falls.
Mabel worked at Oakland Park Nursing Home, Northwest Medical Center, the Best Western Inn, Hanging Gardens and Gary's Rainbow Bakery. She also did some domestic work and babysitting for people.
She enjoyed rummage sales, sewing and baking. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
Mabel is survived by one daughter, Donna (Paul) Halverson of Thief River Falls; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard, in 1985; her parents; five brothers, Ray, Harry, Glen, Robert and Eldon; and three sisters, Thressa, Maud and Alice.