Fair / 5° F
Nellie Herman, 96
Published 12:00am Friday, December 19, 2008Nellie Herman, 96, of Fergus Falls died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008, at Lake Region Hospital.
She was born March 23, 1912, on a farm in Sargent County, rural Havana, N.D., to William and Margaret (Lambden) Huckell and attended rural school in Sargent County.
On Aug. 17, 1936, she married Meredith Herman in Britton, S.D. They lived one year in Twin Valley, where they ran a hotel and restaurant and she did the cooking. After a year, they sold the business and built a dance hall called The Gulch Tavern east of Havana, N.D., which they ran for three years and she cooked the burgers.
In 1945, they purchased farm land and moved their growing family south of Rutland, N.D.
Nellie’s life centered around her family, a big vegetable garden with many flowers for beauty and sewing for her family.
She and Meredith enjoyed visiting with friends and family, dancing and going to horse events.
In 1952, they moved to Boulder, Colo., and in 1954, they moved to a farm north of Ft. Colllins, Colo. A disease destroyed their cattle herd forcing them to start over again.
They returned to North Dakota in 1955, and bought a farm near Milnor. In 1964, they bought a small ranch near Henning where they continued to raise cattle and horses and Nellie sewed for both a hobby and for extra income, sewing for many people throughout the community and for all her family.
In 1972, they retired from farming and moved into Vining. In 1982, they moved to Nashua to be close to their daughter.
Nellie ran the Post Office in Nashua until 1994, when they moved into the Goldenwood Apartments in Fergus Falls.
Nellie and her husband moved into the Broen Home in 2004, where they shared a room.
She always said her favorite place to live was “wherever she was at the time.”
She made the best of every situation and was able to adapt to life’s challenges. She was very proud to have celebrated their 72th wedding anniversary in August 2008 with family.
Nellie loved to sew, doing quilting and embroidery work that many have enjoyed. She and Meredith square danced every opportunity they could until they were both well into their 80s.
She enjoyed reading, playing cards and visiting. She continued sewing, completing her last pillow case project last week.
Nellie enjoyed the many visits of family and friends and always had a cheerful smile and laugh. She will be greatly missed by many.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Meredith on Dec. 2, 2008; three sisters, Bess Stabnow, Mable Stabnow and Emily Fetherhuff; four brothers, Bob, Les, John and Bill Huckell; a grandson, Miles Thornton; and a son-in-law, Roger Koltes.
She is survived by a son, Neil (Madeline) Herman of Fergus Falls; three daughters, Nola (John) Thornton of Opelousas, La., Karel (Gary) Titus of Pine Island, and Kareen Koltes of Nashua; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and a sister, Margie Nichols of LaMesa, Calif.
Visitation: One hour prior to the service
Service: 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Light and Life Auditorium at Broen Memorial Home, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Rev. Ken Austin
Burial: Immanuel Cemetery, Cayuga, N.D.
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls
Condolences may be sent online at www.glendenilson.com
