Mary Lingen Nelson

Mary Lingen Nelson was born on May 5, 1939 to Rene and Elsie Meulebroeck at Marshall, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at the Catholic Church. She grew up in the communities of Lynd, Marshall, and Ruthton Minnesota. She began her education in Marshall, Minnesota and later the family moved to Ruthton, Minnesota where she graduated in 1957 from Ruthton High School. She was united in marriage to Philip Lingen on February 5, 1958 at St. Martin Catholic Church in Woodstock, Minnesota. Their union was blessed with four children and 39 years of marriage together. The couple farmed and raised their family in the Ruthton area on the home place where she worked milking cows and feeding calves.

Mary was a member of St. Martin Catholic Church where she was the president of the Ladies Aid. She later joined a crafting club where she enjoyed close friendships, crafts, and lots of laughs. Mary and Phil also enjoyed a card club where they would get together with neighbors. Mary enjoyed raising a big garden, canning, baking, and sewing. She was adored by her family and friends and will be dearly missed.

Following Philip’s death on October 2, 1997, she later married John Nelson from Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin. Mary later returned to southwest Minnesota in 2008 and became a resident for four years at Sunrise Assisted Living in Jasper, Minnesota. In 2012, following a decline in her health, she entered Adrian Care Center where she died Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at the age of 76 years.

Mary will be lovingly remembered by her four children, Luann (and Larry) Brands of Holland, Minnesota, Deb Blegen of St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, Linda (and Allen) Dekam of Chandler, Minnesota, and Dale (and Lynette) Lingen of Ruthton, Minnesota; nine grandchildren, Kristi (Donovan) Hahn, Stacy (Shane) Fey, Mindy (Neil) Thooft, Josh (Crystal) DeKam, Michelle (Cody) Kottke, Kirsten (Tommy) Church, Philip (Brilynn) Lingen Jr., Jenna Lingen, and Cody Lingen; eight great- grandchildren, Brandon Fey, Colten Fey, Sara Thooft, Hayley Hahn, Kendra Kottke, Leona Kottke, Erica DeKam, and Case Church; other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rene and Elsie; first husband, Philip Lingen; and her late husband, John Nelson.

Blessed be her memory.