Marilyn Amelia Nielsen was born on April 24, 1926, in Lake Andes, South Dakota. She was the daughter of Arling and Ingeborg (Stokke) Thompson. Her father was a Pastor of the American Lutheran Church (now ELCA). The family, including her beloved sister Gloria, lived the life of a tight knit Pastor’s family in Lake Andes, S.D., Ortonville, MN, and Blue Earth, MN. They truly served their congregations as a family with Marilyn and Gloria serving the congregations in every way possible with their parents.

Marilyn loved growing up in Blue Earth. While in High School, during the years of World War II, she worked many jobs that needed to be fulfilled in the community. This included working at the Green Giant factory, several retail jobs, secretarial work, and as a “secret shopper” for the Department of Commerce, verifying proper pricing of goods. After graduating from Blue Earth High School in 1944, she enrolled at Saint Olaf College in Northfield, MN. There she met a core of lifelong friends she called the “Ole Angels”. It is while at Saint Olaf her love of choral music was forever cast.

After college Marilyn worked as a legal secretary in Blue Earth and Minneapolis. On the Greyhound Bus to Minneapolis, she met Kenneth Nielsen of Ringsted, IA. They were married on August 5, 1951 in Blue Earth, by her father. They made their home in the Highland Park neighborhood of Saint Paul until Ken’s death in 1992. She was extremely active at her church, Immanuel Lutheran of Saint Paul, as well as a choral group known as the “Reformation Singers”. Marilyn retired and moved to Fairmont in 2001.

Throughout her life Marilyn was a faithful servant to her church and community. Of special importance to her were singing in church choirs, being a volunteer for the hospital, being a reading helper for elementary school students, and her nearly 50 years as a member of the P.E.O. sisterhood. Marilyn loved gardening, Rosemaling (Norwegian painting), time at her cabin on Lake Lida, and cooking for family and friends. There was no greater joy to her than being close to her grandchildren in order to attend all of their activities and be a regular part of their lives.

Left to treasure the memories and lessons of her lifetime include her son and daughter-in-law Matthew and Jennifer Nielsen, grandchildren Kara Nielsen and Peter Nielsen, brother-in-law Kenneth Scott, sister-in-law Wilma Nielsen, nieces and grand-nieces Mary Ellen Scott, Susan (David) Rae, Sophie Rae and Chloe Rae, nephews Mark Scott, Paul (Hollie) Nielsen, and Timothy (Alaire) Nielsen.

As a family we appreciate all of your support and well wishes. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Grace Lutheran Church Missions, Fairmont Community Hospital Foundation, or The St. Olaf Choir.

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