Nadine Walsh

Nadine L. Walsh, 90 of Fargo, died Thursday, April 17, 2008 at the Evergreens of Fargo after a long struggle with heart disease. She will always be gratefully remembered as the grandma, mother, mother-in-law and friend who loved very quietly, but strongly. Her smile and laugh, even during times of pain and loss during her life, were an inspiration to those who had the opportunity to know her. Nadine was born on August 12, 1917 in Wakonda, South Dakota to Lynn and Ida (Bierce) Ketchum. While in her early teens she lost her father and helped her mother providing room and board for school teachers and others during the Depression. Her future husband was one of those boarders. She graduated from Wakonda High School with honors, and attended business college in Grand Island, Nebraska. She then began a career in banking at the Security State Bank in Wakonda that covered an intermittent 35 years until her retirement in 1982. Many will remember her friendliness and patience as she helped customers balance checkbooks and listen as they related what was important in their lives. She wedded Joseph J. Walsh on July 3, 1944, in Wakonda and was happily married for 23 years until Joe?s far too early death in 1972. Although a medical condition prevented her from bearing only one child, she provided the love and caring that could have easily satisfied a household full of children had the Good Lord so willed. Nadine and Joe farmed in the mid-fifties before moving to Rapid City in 1956. There Nadine worked as a bookkeeper for a local lumber company and later as a bank teller. In 1960, Ed Eystad, the owner of the Security State Bank and Nadine?s former boss, enticed her to return to her former job in Wakonda. Nadine, Joe and John relocated back to the farm and she served as a teller, cashier and assistant vice president until her retirement. After retirement she helped pass her days as a volunteer bookkeeper for her church. In 1993 she moved from the farm to an apartment in near-by Yankton before relocating to Fargo in 2001 at the behest of her son. Two highlights of her retirement years were trips to Alaska and Europe with her life-long best friend Maxine Morrison. Nadine was a member of St. Patrick?s Catholic Church and clerk/business manager for the Wakonda School Board for many years. She was also a member of Wakonda Centennial Committee and helped edit the Centennial History Book. Her ?passions? were cross word puzzles, reading, playing bridge and talking about her grandchildren ? activities she enjoyed to the very end of life. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents and 3 sisters, Zelma Ketchum, Hazel Johnson and Betty Lou Hartman. Nadine is survived by her son, John (Marlene) Walsh of Fargo; granddaughters, Erin of Phoenix, AZ and Meggan of Flagstaff, AZ. Memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley. Visitation: Sunday, April 20 from 12:30-1:30 pm at Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. Prayer Service: Sunday, April 20 at 1:30 pm at Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. Interment: St. Patrick?s South Cemetery, Wakonda, SD. Arrangements entrusted to Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo and Hansen Funeral Home, Irene & Vermillion, SD. Online guestbook at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com