Barbara E. Claxton

Barbara’s service will be livestreamed below at 10:00 am, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Barbara Elaine Nelson Claxton, 96, passed away peacefully January 15, 2024 at SMP St. Catherine’s North with family by her side.

Born in Moline, Illinois on May 7, 1927, to George and Dora Brown. Barbara grew up in Cedar Rapids Iowa, with her sister Geraldine and her Grandmother Margaret and Grandfather Sydney. She was united in marriage to Carl Nelson on September 21, 1944. Out of that union, they had four children. Carla, Sandy, Tom and Carl Jr (Butch). Carl was a Master Sargeant in the US army, and Barbara and the children traveled with Carl to many different Army bases in the states and two bases in Japan. Barbara and Carl Divorced in 1963. Barbara married Art Claxton in March of 1967. She worked at the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department for 27 years, she continued to manage an apartment complex in Salinas, CA until moving to Fargo, North Dakota in 2008. When moving to Fargo she enjoyed living in her own home, being outside on her patio watching the birds, watering her plants, watching her dog Chewy play. She also enjoyed spending time with her cat, Callie. Barbara enjoyed watching the 49ers and Raiders play football on TV, Wheel of Fortune and playing Solitaire on her little handheld device. During the summertime she very much enjoyed having all the grandkids over and watching them play outside.

Barbara is survived by brother, George (Paula), and their children of Kearney, NE; daughter, Sandy (Butch) Hanson and their children, Bryan( Sarah) and their children Kolton and Kinley, Jeff (Darlene) and their children, Casey, Sidnie and Carter, Chad (Jackie) and their children Colby and Colin all of from Fargo, ND; granddaughter, Beth Ann and her children, Mandi (Ty) and their children Kayden, Khloe, Karis and Kylie all of Plymouth, MN; Beth Ann’s son, Shane of Fargo, ND, and her daughter, Christina (Gary) and their children, Alexis and Shane of Moorhead, MN; granddaughter, Lindsay (Bryan) and their kids, Gavin and William of Menlo Park, CA; grandson, Thomas (Laura) and their children, Thomas and Landon of Grand Junction, CO; granddaughter, Shana (Jesse) and their kids, Shanel and Annabel of Grand Junction, CO; and special niece, Stephanie Finley and her husband, Dick of Cresten, IA. Barbara is also survived by many special friends including, Shirley Hanson, Kathy Seidel, Pat McKay, Debbie Borstad, Tinker Lynch and Danny Scott.

She is preceded in death by husbands, Carl Nelson and Art Claxton; two sons, Carl and Thomas; daughter, Carla; grandson, Rocky; sister, Geraldine; both of her parents and grandparents; and her stepmother, Mildred Brown DeCamp.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the LendAHandUp Foundation or a charity of your choice.
The family would like to thank the staff at St. Catherine’s North and Hospice of the Red River Valley for their care of Barbara.