Betty Jean (Hardenberg) Nelson, 69, of Dalton, died Sunday, December 13, 2020, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls, Minnesota after a 29-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Betty Jean Nelson was born June 13, 1951, to John and Margaret “Peggy” (Wahl) Hardenberg in Fergus Falls. She was baptized and confirmed at United Church of Christ. Betty graduated from Fergus Falls Senior High School in 1969 and attended Minneapolis Business College.
On September 15, 1973 Betty married Sidney Nelson in Sisseton, South Dakota, immediately gaining two daughters, Lynnette and Lori. Together the happy couple brought two more daughters, Angela and Sara, into the world. Betty devoted her life to being a caring wife and mother. Side-by-side with her husband building a log home in Dalton.
Betty’s work history included a seamstress at Rosenblatt’s, Dalton Post Office as Post Master Relief, and home health giver for a couple individuals.
She enjoyed years of bowling with the Friday Morning Coffee League at Northern Aire Lanes. She was a member of Our Savior’s Ten Mile Lake Lutheran Church and dedicated member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Haug-Hammer Post #508 of Dalton.
Betty took pleasure in gardening, cooking, and baking. She encouraged her daughters to embrace their interests in 4-H, raising rabbits and chickens, crafting and hobbies. Betty’s favorite hobbies were fishing and deer hunting, relishing fishing trips to Lake Michigan in Door County, WI and the Missouri River in Mobridge, SD. Her final resting place will be next to her deer stand where she will await the love of her life to join her.
Betty is survived by her husband, Sid; daughters, Angela (Zachary) Fredrickson of Fergus Falls, Sara (Darren) Hage of Fergus Falls, Lynnette Nelson of Orono, and Lori (Dean) Thorsen of Dalton; grandchildren, Jessica (Chad) Mammenga of Rogers, Mitchell Thorsen of Grand Forks, Race and Dain Nelson of Orono, and Roric Hage of Fergus Falls; great-grandchildren, Harper, Everett, and Graham Mammenga of Rogers; step-granddaughter, Lilly Priebnow of Fergus Falls, brother, Paul (Linda) Hardenberg of Garrison; sisters-in-law, Shirley (Harlan) Kirkvold of Baxter, Louanne Fronning (John Hughes) of Clitherall, and Connie (Kevin) DeKrey of Reiles Acres, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents and brother, Dale Hardenberg.
Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the church
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 18, 2021, Our Savior’s - Ten Mile Lake Lutheran Church, Dalton, MN
Clergy: Reverend Paul Synder
Interment: Private Family Burial will be held
Memorials are preferred to Parkinson’s Disease Foundation for Research or Our Savior’s Ten Mile Lake Church.
Arrangements are provided by the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.
Online condolences may be sent to
www.olsonfuneralhome.com