Margaret "Marge" Nelson

Funeral services for Margaret "Marge" Nelson, of Barrett, will be held Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris.  Visitation will be held Monday, July 20, 2020 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, MN. Burial will be at Summit Cemetery in Morris.

While maintaining social distancing guidelines, we are now able to accommodate gatherings of up to 250 people. The use of face masks by attendees is recommended, and we will continue taking the necessary steps to keep our facility clean. For those who prefer or require continued precautions, webcasting and/or livestreaming is available in most situations.

There will be a live stream of Marge's funeral service beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2020. To view the service on the Pedersen Funeral Home website, scroll to the bottom of Marge's obituary page to view. If you are unable to watch the live stream, a webcast of the funeral will be available.

Margaret Barbara Kleinhaus was born on November 27, 1932 in La Crosse, Wisconsin to George and Gladys (Kish) Kleinhaus.  Margaret was raised in La Crosse where she was baptized and confirmed in her Lutheran faith.  She also received her education, graduating with the Logan High School class of 1950.  Following high school, she worked as a nurse’s aide at the local hospital.  She was introduced to Howard Nelson, a member of the military police working at Camp McCoy.  They began dating and after a short courtship, were married at Bethel Lutheran Church and celebrated with a reception at her parents’ home in La Crosse.  After their marriage, they moved to North Carolina while Howard finished his service with the military and then moved to Morris.  They lived in Morris while Howard completed his schooling at the ag school and then farmed numerous places before purchasing their farm near Barrett in 1971.  To this union, they had three children.  Margaret stayed busy helping on the farm and raising their children.  She continued to live on the farm until June of 2020 when she moved into the Barrett Care Center where she lived until her death.

Margaret was very meticulous, detailed and remembered every birthday!  She always had her hair fixed and lipstick on.  She and Howard enjoyed dancing and visiting family around the area as well as traveling to La Crosse to see her family.  Marge was well known for her baking and cooking and was always willing to feed who ever happened to stop by on a Sunday afternoon.  She fed a lot of people at her kitchen table over the years.  Most important to her was her family, she cherished the time she was able to spend with them and was thrilled every time a new baby was born.

Margaret died peacefully on Friday, July 17, 2020 at the Barrett Care Center in Barrett; she was 87 years old.

She is survived by her children: Steve (Sue) Nelson of Donnelly, Barbara (Dennis) Michels of Yankton, SD, and Wayne Nelson of Barrett; grandchildren: Amber (Patrick) Nelson, Rick (Cathy) McLaughlin, Michael (Jennifer) McLaughlin, Tom McLaughlin, Ryan (Rheana) Tacke, Joshua Michels and Emily Michels; great-grandchildren: Maxwell and Mason Nelson, Samantha and Morgana McLaughlin, Alayna (Troy) Mehlhaf, Lauren McLaughlin, Michael McLaughlin, and Edith and Luke Tacke; siblings: George (Judy) Kleinhaus of La Crosse, WI, Loretta Delagrave of Richland Center, WI, and Karen (Bill) Prestwood of Soldier’s Grove, WI.  She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard; and siblings: Myrtle Draeving and Jack Kleinhaus.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of arrangements for Margaret.