Marcella Nordgren

Marcella Nordgren died on March 15, 2011 at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul. Marcella was born in Milan, Minn., to Theodore (Ted) and Annie (Shervey) Nelson on December 23, 1924. She was baptized and confirmed at Kviteseid Lutheran Church in Milan. She graduated from Milan High School, then from the Montevideo Teachers' Training Department. After teaching in rural schools, she continued her education and graduated from St. Cloud State Teachers' College. Her marriage to William (Bill) Nordgren took place at Kviteseid Lutheran in Milan on August 29, 1948. After their marriage, they lived in Minneapolis, where she was employed as a calculist for what was then the Hardware Mutual Insurance Co. They later moved to Olivia, Minn. While there, she was a member of a home extension group, was active in various ladies' organizations of the church, was a longtime member of the choir, taught Sunday school, and served as Sunday school superintendent and as financial secretary of the church for several years. She was the accounting officer for the Renville County Welfare Board and later did accounting for a local CPA. The family moved to St. James, where she became a member of a neighborhood home extension group and a sewing club, and she also became involved in various ladies' organizations of the church again, and taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school and served several terms as treasurer for Ladies' Aid. In later years, she served as treasurer for Svenska Vannerna (Swedish Friends), an affiliate of the American Swedish Institute, from 2000 to 2005, when it disbanded. In addition, she set type for the Plaindealer for two years. Her hobbies included various craft projects, crossword puzzles, bowling, visiting with friends and spending time with her family. She was always proud of the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Bill; daughters Nancy (Denny) Olsen of St. Paul, Peggy (Phred) Young of Mankato and Kathy (Bryon) Christenson of rural St. James; grandchildren Wil and Ted Olsen, Holly and John Young, and Ben, Pete and Erin Christenson; great-grandchildren Aedan and Layla; nephews Steven Carrier, Rodney Carrier, John Carrier, Sam Nelson and Ted Nelson; sister-in-law Pattiann Nordgren; several great-nieces and -nephews, and several cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Stanton (Buster) Nelson, sister Carol Solberg and niece Sheila (Nelson) Markheim.