Obituary
Norma B. (Olsen) Nelson, 87, Mandan, passed away on December 15, 2021, at Marian Manor in Glen Ullin.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at First Lutheran Church, Mandan, with Pastor Phil Leer and Pastor John Hanson officiating. Burial will be at Heart River Cemetery, rural Mandan.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Monday, December 20, 2021, at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, with a prayer service at 7 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Norma was born on April 6, 1934, in Bismarck to Carl and Adla (Johnson) Olsen. Raised and educated in Mandan, she graduated from Mandan High School in 1951 and from Bismarck Hospital School of Nursing in 1954. She worked as a surgical nurse and as a camp nurse at the Farm Bureau Citizenship Camp over the years. On December 3, 1954, Norma married Clifford Nelson at First Lutheran Church in Mandan. They made their home on Cliff’s family farm, Sunrise Ranch, south of Mandan where they raised their five children and farmed and ranched for their entire lives. The ranch was inducted into the ND Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2003, the same year Cliff passed away.
A gracious and kind hostess, Norma would always welcome guests into her home, the more the merrier, sharing her fresh baked goods and delicious meals. She grew a large garden and loved to can the produce to last all year long. Norma loved holidays with her family and sent beautiful, personalized cards to her family and friends. She was a talented and crafty seamstress, making her own satin wedding dress and later her families clothing.
Norma was generous and giving of her time and talents and was involved in numerous organizations and groups including, Heart River Ladies Aide, Highland Homemakers for 64 years, Highland 4-H, District 5 Cattlewomen, Morton County and ND Farm Bureau, Heart River Cemetery Association, ND Stockmen’s Association, and West River Lions.
Blessed to have shared in her life is her daughter, Susan Epps, Mandan; three sons, Terry, Kevin, and Dennis (Carla) Nelson, all of Mandan; son-in-law, Paul Toman, Fountain Hills, AZ; five grandchildren, Andrea (Neil) Toman, Jeremiah (Molly) Epps, Sara (Tony) LaBarre, David Epps, and Garrett Nelson; nine great-grandchildren, Jackson, Nicholas, Ezekiel and Anya Toman, Jack Murphy, Emmett and Lacey Epps, and Tevin and Liliah Christianson; sister, LaVerne Nelson, Mandan; brother, Duane (Mavis) Olsen, Mandan; sister-in-law, Esther Papp, Covina, CA; several nieces and nephews; and her very special friend, Theresa Tokach, Mandan.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Clifford; daughter, Donna Toman; her parents; and one brother, Leland Olsen.
To send flowers to Norma’s family, please visit our floral store.
