Nona Nelson

Nona Nelson was born Nona Kristin Kristjanson in Mountain, ND on November 3, 1920. She passed peacefully in her sleep at the Community Living Center in Osnabrock, ND on December 24, 2014, at the age of 94, less than twenty-four hours from the anniversary of her loving husband, Harley B. Nelson's passing in 2002. Nona was of Icelandic heritage.

She is survived by four children, Harley "Bradley" Nelson from Las Vegas, Peggy Sholy from Las Vegas, Connie Castro from Colorado Springs and Barbara Taylor from Monument, Colorado. She has six grandchildren, William, Sara and Katie Sholy and Bret, Lisa and Geoffrey Taylor. Great grandchildren are Luke, Nina and Ruby Taylor. Her sister, Amy “Penny” Northfield and brother Donald, live in Seattle. Nona was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, John, Steve, Douglas and Ronald, and sisters, Doris, Elizabeth and Judy.

Nona was born in Mountain, ND. Her parents were Aldis and Kristjan Kristjanson. After high school graduation in Garder, ND she studied and then worked as a hairdresser in Grafton, ND. She met Harley Nelson at a dance in Milton, ND and they were married on November 30, 1944 in a triple wedding ceremony in Mountain, ND. Her brother Steve married Ingibjorg “Baby” Hallgrimson and her cousin Emily married Kristin Gudmunson. Nona and Harley lived on a grain farm in Osnabrock, ND from 1944 through 1975 when they retired from farming and moved to Las Vegas, NV. Nona started her career as an artist in Osnabrock and continued her study after she moved to Las Vegas. She has several paintings in private collections throughout the United States and Canada. She served on the Board of the Las Vegas Art Museum, volunteered for receptionist work there and served as Docent for the Suitcase Gallery. She was a member of the Nevada Water Color Society and the National League of American Pen Women. Nona had her work accepted in many juried shows in Las Vegas and she won a National Water Color Society competition in the 1980’s, and this painting then hung in the Sumner Museum in Washington, D.C. for a year. She was innovative and enjoyed working in oils, acrylics, collage, and watercolors.

Prior to beginning her painting career, she sewed, crocheted, knitted and could be found cutting up tin cans to make the most beautiful starburst wall decorations you could imagine. Her family and friends fondly remember her great pies, and how she could burn a roast to glorious perfection!!! Her microwave fudge with whole peanuts is legendary.

After Harley died, Nona lived with daughter, Connie, in Colorado Springs and after a few years felt it was time to go �home’-- back to North Dakota -- and live in the Osnabrock Community Living Center. Nona was very happy in the Center and deeply enjoyed the companionship of the residents and the loving care of all the staff.

A graveside service at Union Cemetery near Osnabrock, ND will take place Friday, July 31, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. with fellowship following at Osnabrock Living Center.

In lieu of flowers, you are invited to send a donation to the Osnabrock Community Living Center.

The family extends its warmest thanks to the staff of the Osnabrock Community Living Center (Debbie Jonasson,
Evanna Magnus, Tristan Magnus, Lisa Feil, Brittany Howard, Bonnie Christianson, Maureen Smith, Jean Wilhelmi, Stacey Welsh and Kenneth Nelson) for the love and care they have given Mom.