Nelda Jean Westerlind passed away on Monday, June 4, 2018 at home surrounded by her loved ones.
Nelda was born in Mineral Center, Minnesota on April 1, 1930 to Martin and Teresa Bockovich. She graduated from high school in Cook County in 1947 and went on to business school in Duluth. After business school she worked briefly for Associated Loan Co., Duluth; Central Wholesale Co-op, Superior; and Beck Furniture of Duluth before going to work as a civilian employee for the federal government.
She worked in Washington, D.C. for USMC Air keeping track of where all members of the Marine Air Corps were stationed. She moved to North Carolina in February 1951 and started working at Camp Lejeune in the maintenance department. While working at Camp Lejeune she met Palmer Westerlind and they were married on May 3, 1953 in North Dakota.
They lived in Garrison, North Dakota where their daughter Susan was born. After moving to a logging camp in Minnesota they had three sons, Martin, Dennis and Eugene. They moved to Grand Marais in 1964.
After all her children were in school, Nelda worked at various different jobs including the veneer plant, Photo Art Shop (currently White Pine North), Sunday newspaper delivery, U.S. Postal Service and Cook County Soil and Water. She retired in 1992.
She was an active member of the First Baptist Church (currently Cornerstone Church) and held many offices and worked on numerous committees and boards over the years. Her church and church family were important parts of her life over the years.
She volunteered for numerous organizations, including the March of Dimes National Foundation, the PTA, local cancer clinics and the Cook County Historical Society. She was a leader for the Rose Harbor 4-H Club and was the “Daffodil Lady” for the American Cancer Society. She was the 2001 Senior Citizen of the Year.
Nelda most enjoyed spending time with family at large holiday gatherings, at family game nights, card parties with her sisters and sister-in-law and at Labor Day gatherings at the family farm.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Palmer; brothers Halbert, Gilbert, Robert and Bruce; and sister Joan.
She is survived by her sisters Nona and Florence and her brother Richard; her daughter Susan; sons Martin, Dennis and Eugene; grandson Roger (Andrea); granddaughter Rebecca (Henry); great-granddaughters RosaBella and Nevaeh; and dozens of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers Nelda requested memorials be given to Cornerstone Church or the Cancer Society.
Nelda was cremated and her memorial service will be at Cornerstone Church on Tuesday, June 19 at 1 p.m. There will be time for visiting with the family beginning at noon and also following the service.
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