Due to COVID, a service for family and intimate friends only will take place on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in First Lutheran Church in Minot. All others are invited to join a livestream of the service: https://flcminot.com/view-worship/

To view the flowers from Mary's service, click here: Mary Nielsen Smith Flowers

Mary Nielsen Smith, 70, lifelong Minot resident and longtime Minot State University Nursing instructor, died on Thursday, March 18, 2021 in Minot after valiantly facing pancreatic cancer for the past year.

Mary Kay was born on June 29, 1950 in Minot to Lawrence and Evelyn (Smith) Nielsen.  She was raised and educated in Minot (Longfellow, Ramstad, MHS) and graduated from Minot High School in 1968.  She continued her education at the University of North Dakota where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in 1972 and Master's Degree in 1987.  Mary married Chester A. "Spike" Smith Jr. on July 1, 1972. They made a home in Minot and were blessed with two daughters. Spike died on May 3, 2018.

Mary worked all of her life to care for others and to train nurses to provide the utmost care to their patients. She was employed as a staff nurse in the Orthopedic Unit and Emergency Room from July of 1972 until 1976 when she began teaching at the Trinity School of Nursing.  She served in that capacity until 1986 when she became an Assistant Professor in the Minot State University Nursing Department. During her time at Minot State she taught medical/surgical nursing, leadership and management and was responsible for the senior nursing practicum. She also served as the interim Chairperson for the Department of Nursing from 2006 – 2007 and again in the summer of 2011, and worked as the Advanced Standing Director of the RN to BSN Completion Online Program since 2007.

Outside of her regular work at the university, Mary's passion for nursing led to involvement in numerous service organizations. She was intimately involved with the Dakota Nurses Association, an activity she aspired to, following in her mother's footsteps. She chaired many NDNA committees over the years, served as the association's president at the state level, and was awarded the NDNA District 2 Nurse of the Year in 1991. Mary was a charter member of Omicron Tau - the local chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, and served on the YWCA Board of Directors. Mary was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church – Minot where she was baptized and confirmed.

Mary was known for her generous heart, her intelligence and integrity, for having a bright laugh and for always being open to fun. She enjoyed spending time with friends and colleagues, having monthly lunches with cousins, and reading in her spare time.

Above all, Mary cherished her grandchildren. She took an active role in all of their lives and proudly doted on them. She frequently taxied "the girls" to after-school and weekend activities, and made every effort to travel to California to be with "the boys" any chance she could. She became affectionately known as "Gramma Mary" by many groups of children in both Minot and San Francisco.

Mary will be missed tremendously by her children, grandkids, family, friends and colleagues.

Mary's loving family includes her daughters: Jennifer "Libby" (Christopher) Claerbout and SaraBeth (Nathan) Wanzek; grandchildren:  Amelia and Evelyn Claerbout and Adler and Emmett Wanzek; brothers: Jeffrey (Kathy) Nielsen and Gary (Kim) Nielsen; sister-in-law: Susan Hill and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Public Visitation (without family present) will take place Sunday, March 21 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home in Minot.

Due to COVID, a service for family and intimate friends only will take place on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in First Lutheran Church in Minot. All others are invited to join a livestream of the service: https://flcminot.com/view-worship/

Interment will immediately follow the service at Rosehill Memorial Park in Minot.

Please join Mary's family in June 2021, for a Celebration of Life gathering.

Memorials are preferred to the Evelyn Nielsen Scholarship to support nursing students, c/o Minot State Foundation.