Frances (Wayne) Nelson, age 92, of Fargo, North Dakota, died peacefully on January 20, 2014, due to respiratory complications from pneumonia at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California.
Born February 7, 1921 to Ida and Ferdinand Wayne in Geneva, Minnesota, Frances was the youngest of 12 siblings. As a child, Frances attended schools in Geneva and Ellendale, Minnesota and later received her three-year RN degree from the Naeve Hospital of Nursing in Albert Lea, Minnesota. She worked as an OR nurse in Albert Lea, St. Peter, and Mankato (MN) and also Fargo, North Dakota. In 1949, Frances married John Nelson of Geneva, Minnesota and then began a new career working in their orthopedic shoe store, which they owned and operated in Fargo for over 25 years before retiring in 1982. Volunteering was also an important part of Frances’ life – she devoted more than 30 years at Merit Care in addition to being the pianist at Bethany Nursing Home Chapel in Fargo. Frances’ talents also included creating beautiful needlepoint works of art depicting not only her Danish heritage but also Norman Rockwell treasures for her family and friends. After her husband passed away in 2006, Frances moved to San Diego, California in 2009 to be nearer her twin children.Survivors include a son Mark (wife Denise of Fargo), daughter Mary Holtgrave, and granddaughter Erin, as well as nieces and nephews. Frances is preceded in death by her husband, all siblings, and a son-in-law, Michael. A memorial service will be planned for this summer in Fargo, North Dakota.