Marilyn Nelson , 87, formerly of Minot died Saturday, December 26, 2015 in a Northfield, MN nursing home.

Marilyn Elizabeth Nelson was born on July 29, 1928, to Sigurd and Clara (Johnson) Gullickson in Norma, ND and passed away in the loving care of Northfield Care Center on December 26th, 2015 at the age of 87. She attended country school until her family moved to Mohall, graduating in 1946. She enjoyed the following year at Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis.

In 1949, she was united in marriage to Clifford Nelson in Mohall, ND. Together they lived in Souris, ND and Des Lacs, ND, where Cliff was Superintendent of schools, and then moving to Minot in 1954. Together they raised 4 children, always active in their children's lives, attending MHS sporting and musical events for many years. Throughout their retirement they continued to enjoy MHS and MSU sports, especially men's and women's basketball, making many friends along the way.

Marilyn worked for Minot Public Schools food service and spent many years at the Magic City Campus snack shop. Bethany Lutheran Church was her church home for 61 years, providing leadership with Sunday School, Bethany Lutheran Church Women, and the state fair food stand. She enjoyed quilting, the Hostfest and anything involving the church kitchen.

She and Cliff spent two years in the Edgewood Vista Community before moving to Northfield, MN in 2013 to be close to family. Although she loved and missed her dear North Dakota she never complained and delighted in the time she now had with family, a new great grandson and the making of new friends at Northfield Retirement Community.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and daughter, caring for her family all of her life. Known by all who knew her for the space she had in her heart for those less fortunate, she will be deeply missed.

Marilyn is survived by her sons, Ron of Reno, NV, and Jim of Tillamook, OR; daughters, Jackie (Kevin) Wille of Nerstrand, MN and Shari (Lew) Lapof of Bellingham, WA; grandchildren: Megan (Adam) Miller, Nick Lapof, Rita Lapof, Davis Wille, Martin Harrington-Nelson, Lizzie Harrington-Nelson, Luke Nelson, one great-grandson Cameron Miller; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, and husband.

A funeral service was held in Northfield, MN on Saturday, January 2, 2016.
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 7, 2015 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment will be held prior to the memorial service in Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot
Memorials preferred to Bethany Lutheran Church in Minot or the Northfield Retirement Community.