Mary Anne Nelson
Mary Anne (Shepherd) Nelson, age 91, of Marietta, MN, passed away on Monday, October 11, 2021, at her home. Funeral service was Saturday, October 16, 2021, at the United Methodist Church in Gary, SD, with Pastor Sandy Marquardt officiating. Burial was in the Grandview Cemetery, Gary.
Mary Anne Thomas was born in her home in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, on January 13, 1930, to Charles R. and Marietta (Washburn) Thomas. Mary Anne moved with her family to Strandburg and the Gary area, where she attended school, graduating in 1948. In November of 1948, Mary Anne married Ward Shepherd of Washington, D.C., and together, they began farming on the south side of Lake Cochrane. There, they began their family by having Ole, Wesley and Anna. In 1958, they moved to Silver Spring, MD, where they had Kent and Tina.
They bought a farm in 1968 in Manfred Township, MN, and started dairy and stock cow farming once again and continued until they retired in 1984. They enjoyed time at their lake cabin in northern Minnesota and traveling together.
Mary Anne was the first woman to serve on the Minnesota Dairy Promotion Council. She served on the Manfred Town Board and in the Gary United Methodist Women. Mary Anne was a member of the Gary Methodist Quilting group. Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ward passed away in 2007. On December 6, 2008, Mary Anne was united in marriage to Harvey Nelson. They enjoyed over 12 years of marriage until Harvey’s passing in April of 2021. Harvey and Mary Anne had been friends for 81 years. Mary Anne passed away at her home on Monday, October 11, 2021, at the age of 91 years, nine months and 28 days.
Mary Anne will be deeply missed by her children, Ole Shepherd of St. James, MN, Wesley (Joyce) Shepherd of Marietta, MN, AnnaMarie (Dan) Schubert of Elizabeth, MN, Kent Shepherd of Marshall, MN, and Tina (Lane) Hawkins of Renner, SD; one step-son, Doug (Marilyn) Nelson of Gary, SD; two step-daughters, Sandy (David) Law of Watertown, SD, and Shirley Pederson of Marietta, MN; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; one cousin, Gardner Washburn; along with numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Mary Anne was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Mary Elizabeth Shepherd; her parents; husbands; four brothers, Theodore, Roy, Wallace (Buck) and Shelby; three sisters, Pearl Krause Watt, Ruth Banwarth and Jean Knipe Hinsvark.
Blessed be her memory.