Muriel "Molly" Nelson

Muriel â€Molly’ Nelson, 91, Fargo, formerly of Walhalla, passed away Friday, April 13, 2018 at the Villa Maria Care Center in Fargo.

Muriel Bernice O’Keefe, daughter of Cleo John and Bernice Isabel (O’Sullivan) O’Keefe, was born May 24, 1926. Muriel lived her first years on the O’Sullivan family farm south of Crystal with her parents and grandpa John J. O’Sullivan. In the spring of 1931 the O’Keefe family moved into Crystal where Muriel, now known as Molly, attended Crystal Public School, graduating in 1944. She then attended college, earning her teaching degree. While teaching in Walhalla, Molly met her future husband.

On September 24, 1949 she was married to H. Dennis Nelson. They made their home in Walhalla where they owned and operated Nelson Funeral Home until Dennis passed away in 1986. Molly remained in Walhalla until moving to Fargo in June of 2011. She has resided at the Villa Maria care center since.

Molly was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church of Walhalla as well as many church & community organizations through the years.

She is survived by her children; Paul (Brook) of Oxbow, Carol Ann (Sharif) El Fouly of Closter, NJ, Mark (Jill) of Fessenden, Bill (Hope) of Minot, Denise (Richard) Philipp of Minitrista, MN, Jill (George) Shrum of Fargo, Jack of Fargo and Dennis (Cheryl) of Ft. Collins, CO; 20 grandchildren, Manda, Sara, Karla & Hale, Sharif Marc, Jennifer, Ryan, Michael, Jaime & Michelle, Matthew, Mitchell, Amber & Kelsi, Nathan & Kadian, Jacqueline & Jason, and Taylor & Hailey; 25 great-grandchildren, Will, Henry, Bella, Emerson, Addison, Edyn & Aniston, Gavin, Gracie, Mara, Abigail & Brynn, Kate & Luke, Beckam & Beau and Molly, Eli, Oaklen and Ireland, Colton, Jaelynn & Aubrey, and Abigail & Robert; brothers, Paul (Carol) O’Keefe of Crystal and Michael O’Keefe of Grand Forks; and sisters, Helen Miller of Billings, MT, Jan Clairmont of Great Falls, MT, Mary Eleanor O’Keefe of Galveston, TX and Ruth (Terry) Retzlaff of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis; her parents; brothers, Lloyd, Bill & Charles (Chub); sisters, Cleona Luibel and Madrienne Schuler; grandson, Jon Shrum; and great-grandchilden, Morgan Hoornaert, Laken Rexine, and two Johnson babies.

Funeral Mass: Friday, April 20, 2018 at 10:30 A. M. at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Walhalla

Visitation: Thursday from 5:00 P. M. to 7:00 P. M. at the church

Prayer Service: Thursday evening at 7:00 P. M. at the church

Burial: St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery

Arrangements with Nelson Funeral Home of Walhalla

Online condolences may be shared at nelsonfuneralhomesnd.com