Margaret Nelson

Margaret Ellen Edwards age 81, of Walcott, North Dakota passed away on December 14th.
Margaret was born in Grand Rapids Minnesota on November 22, 1941 to William and Mary Josephine Edwards. She was one of 8 siblings.  She had 4 brothers; Paul, Neil, Richard, and William, all who grew up and went into the military and 3 sisters all older than her. She was raised 6 miles out of Nashwauk, Minnesota on a small farm.  She enjoyed growing up on the farm where they raised cows, chicken, and her favorite, horses.  Margaret was a county girl who liked being by herself a lot, preferring to spend time with animals rather than people. Often Margaret and  her dog would be gone roaming the woods and fields all day long until dark whenever she had the chance. Mom went to school in Nashwauk all the way up until the 11th grade, when she had to drop out of school to take care of her mom who was very sick with Cancer. After her mom passed away she lived with her dad in Pengilly. When her
brother, Richard moved to California, she went with and worked in a factory for a short time. It was in California where she met and married Charles Boyd Nelson. They lived in Santa Maria for a brief period of time where they had a daughter. They returned to Walcott, North Dakota, where Charles grew up and had a son, Joseph Nelson. They moved to Abercrombie, North Dakota and eventually back to Walcott. Margaret was a stay at home mom until 1974, when she took a job at Fargo Wire for a couple years and then started working at the Villa Maria in Fargo. She worked there many years until her sister-in-law, Linda Stone tried their hand in the Restaurant business in Colfax North Dakota until 1983. Margaret was then hired at 3M, now Imation in Wahpeton North Dakota where she worked until she retired.  Margaret resided in Walcott until she passed on December 14. Margaret is survived by her son Joe (Angelique) Nelson, a daughter Theresa (Mike) Bellanger,  grandson , and two
granddaughters Josephine Bellanger and Gabrielle Bellanger,  and her three sisters Charlotte Wilson, Sharon Gangl and Mary Thesing.
My mother will be greatly missed by my brother and I.  People have said to me, “Oh Theresa, your mother was so funny with her dry sense of humor and quick wit.” And she was, and yet she was a walking book of knowledge for someone who didn’t receive her diploma. Mom was always reading, she had stacks of books.  One stack of books that she had was open in half and placed on top of the other, half read because she said the book got too boring or
stupid to finish right now.
Whenever I was stressed out about what life was handing me, her advice and soothing voice would make everything so much better.  My mom used to sing and play the guitar when there was nobody home.  I used to pretend I was sleeping in and stay in my bedroom longer so I could listen to her sing and play longer, otherwise, she would stop because she didn’t want anyone listening to her.  My mom tried her hand at being a Sunday school teacher for a few years.  Unfortunately, it was my class that she taught and my mom didn’t play favorites.  I spent plenty of time standing in the corner for goofing off, which the other kids found
humorous and pleasing. Mom was patient with us two.  Even when she would go spend her hard earned money on us for school clothes and Joe went into his bedroom to try them on and came out into the livingroom about an hour later with his new pants and shirt shredded, say “AARRGG! Look mom, I’m the Incredible Hulk!  Mom loved Panda Bears. She collected Panda Bear cups, blankets and knicknacks. She hated dress shirts without collars, and didn’t have a green thumb when it came to house plants.  She would say, there was nothing better than a good cup of hot coffee and a smoke, or an ice cold Coca cola. As you aIl know, she loved cats and dogs.  We alway had cats and dogs running around the house.  Her favorite dog was Pudgie, a very chubby black Pekingese/ Chihuahua mix. She got Pudgie when I was born and was very sad when Pudgie passed when she was 14. I have many  stories and fond memories I could share but I’m not here to write a book, but to say, we loved her very much and will miss her dearly.  Rest in Peace Mom. Until I see you again, I am so glad we had the opportunity to hold you tell you how much we loved you before you left us.