Jessie Irene Mikkelson, 84, Minot and formerly of Watford City passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, July 8, 2013 in a Minot nursing home from complications related to Alzheimer's disease.
Jessie was born on September 24, 1928 in Watford City, ND to Asy W. and Gladys (Maloney) Calkins. She was reared on the family farm east of Watford City and graduated from Watford City High School in 1946. As a young adult she was employed at Trinity Hospital in Minot.
Jessie married Sherman Mikkelson on April 16, 1948 in Minot. They made their home on a farm in Freedom Township of Ward County south of Minot where they raised four children. Jessie was employed at Trinity Hospital, worked as a nurse's aide at St. Joseph's Hospital and at Kmart as a clerk. Jessie and Sherman moved to Minot in 1974. Prior to her retirement in 2003, she had been employed as a clerk at Target for twenty-two years. Sherman died on June 19, 2003. Jessie had been a resident of Trinity Homes since July of 2007.
Jessie had many hobbies and especially enjoyed sewing, embroidery, quilting, gardening and reading.
Jessie's loving family includes her sons: David Mikkelson (Toni Pickerel Companion) of MInot and Dennis Mikkelson (Linda LaCount Companion) of Hoyt Lakes MN; sons-in-law: Del Jackson of Snyder CO and Jerry Lambert of New Brighton CO grandchildren: Joshua, Christopher, Jodi, Christine, Chad, Shannon, Kirk and Cory; several great grandchildren; sisters: Madeline Miller of Watford City, Frances Paslay of Glendive MT, Oma Hebert of Larimore, Mary Ann (Dan) Jay of Gilbert AZ; brothers: Everette (Lonnie) Calkins of Riverton WY and Arnold Calkins of Belfield; sisters-in-law: Audrey Chole Eidsness of Minot, Lillian Calkins of Tucson AZ, and Virginia Calkins of Velva; brother-in-law: Neil Knight of Stevensville MT and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jessie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughters: Carol Lambert and Diana Jackson; sisters: Beulah Cundiff, Donna Walker Olson, Etheleen Knight and Connie Reimann and brothers: Wallace, Darwin, Lloyd and Eugene Calkins.
Celebration of the Life of Jessie Mikkelson: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. in Trinity Homes Chapel.
Interment will be in Rosehill Memorial Park Minot.
Visitation: Monday, July 15, 2013 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the ND Alzheimers Foundation.