Red Lake Falls - Vanilla "Nelie" Nelson, 89, died on Saturday, April 24, 1999 at Riverview Nursing Home in Crookston.
Funeral services will be held today (Wednesday, April 28) at 10:30 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls with Reverend Gary Graff officiating. Vocal music will be provided by Joe and Susan Asp. Casketbearers will be Dean Berend, Monty Burstad, Brian Shefchik, Mark Senn, Mike Nelson and Mike Moonen. Honorary casketbearers will be all of Nelie's grandchildren. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Red Lake Falls.
Visitation was held from 5 to 8 p.m. with a 7:30 prayer service at Petterson Funeral Home in Red Lake Falls. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to services at the church.
Vanilla "Nelie" Hildreth Marquis was born on July 9, 1909 in Canton, Illinois, the daughter of Harvey and Harriet (Gorsch) Marquis. The family moved to Jamestown, ND when she was a young girl. She was baptized in 1928. The family lived in Warren and then moved to Rosewood.
On November 27, 1933 she married Alving Nelson in Crookston. In the mid-1940's the couple moved to Red Lake Falls. The couple attended Immanuel Lutheran Church where Vanilla was an active member. She sold Avon for a few years. She enjoyed family activities and gardening.
Nelie is survived by her husband, Al in Crookston; four daughters, Joan (Eldon) Burstad of Menomonie, WI, Marilyn (Marvin) Johnson of Jones, OK, Karen (friend Harry Bell) Moonen of Rush City and Dianna (Dr. Owen) Nelson of Red Lake Falls; one son, Mark (Sharon) Nelson of Red Lake Falls; 21 grandchildren; and 35 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Eileen Rood and Frances Baily; and two brothers, Harvey Marquis and William Marquis. A00003B1999AR28