Claudette Nelson, 82, Minot, passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2025, in a Minot assisted living facility.
Claudette Christine Charnetzki was born August 7, 1943, in Kenmare, ND to Claudie and Nellie (Ostdahl). She was raised in rural Donnybrook where she attended country school and eventually graduated from Donnybrook High School in 1961. After high school, she moved to Stanley, ND where she would work for a few years.
Claudette married Ronald Nelson on November 15, 1964, at Hope Lutheran Church in Coulee, ND. They moved to Tioga in 1965, where she was a bookkeeper at Tioga Machine Shop. In 1969, Claudette and Ronald moved to Glasgow, MT and she continued working as a bookkeeper. In 1974, they moved to Minot where they decided to raise their family and make their home. She continued to be a bookkeeper for the next 10 years in Minot, specifically for Community Action Opportunities and other various businesses in the community. After this she decided to work as a life insurance agent for Royal Neighbors of America.
Claudette’s grandchildren were very special to her; she loved to spend time with them as much as possible. When she wasn’t bookkeeping, she was out collecting all kinds of memorabilia such as Pillsbury Dough Boys, Boyd Bears and other antiques. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Minot.
Claudette’s loving family includes her children: Brad Nelson (Heather Geyman) and Bruce Nelson of Minot, and Ronette (Tommy) Totall of Savage, MN; grandchildren: Mikhail Nelson, Alexis Nelson, Nick (Shelby) Stein, Jesse Nelson, Tori Stein, Ashton Nelson, and Brock Nelson: step-grandchildren: Mason Totall, Ryan (Peityn) Totall, Patrick Wessen; brother: Ernest Charnetzki of Minot.
Claudette was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ronald, sisters: Beverly Mason and JoAnn Nelson, and brother Harold Charnetzki.
Celebration of the Life of Claudette Nelson: Friday, December 5, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, Minot. To view a livestream of Claudette’s service, access: https://www.youtube.com/@christlutheranchurchminotn5335/streams
Interment: North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery, Mandan, North Dakota
Visitation will be Thursday, December 4, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Claudette Nelson, please click here to visit our sympathy store.
