Marilyn Halverson Wilson

Swedish saying - -ARA VARE GUD I HOJDEN”- “Glory to God in the highest”

Marilyn Halverson Wilson, who was loved by many, passed peacefully - after a 6-12 year slow progressive cognitive and physical decline due to Alzheimer Dementia - on Thanksgiving Day November 27, 2014 at 8:20 pm at Lemay Avenue Health and Rehab Facility in Ft. Collins, CO. Marilyn was born on December 18, 1933 in Lancaster, MN to Adolph and Ellen (Mortenson) Halverson. She was married to Phillip David Wilson on December 30, 1965 in St. Paul, MN. Following their marriage, as David Wilson, PHD in Biostatistics taught and performed research at various university and government institutions, they resided in Richmond, VA; Baltimore, MD; Tampa, FL; Towson, MD; and Ft Worth, TX. They were married for 45 years until David died in 2011 at age 77.

Marilyn was blessed with a strong Christian faith and commitment to her spouse and her family. She was David’s “Darling Dove” and she practiced quiet KINDNESS- “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing”, Mother Theresa. This was her legacy to others. She loved her Swedish Christmas traditions. Her ancestors were Swedish immigrant wheat farmers who homesteaded in Kittson County in the NW corner of Minnesota. They immigrated from Varmland, Harjadahlen, Harlunda, Smaland & Skane provinces in Sweden. Her great grandfather Peter Mortenson was founder of the Red River Lutheran Church, Hallock, MN. The Halverson Family Farm has been in the family ownership for 132 years. Marilyn also loved the arts- painting, art history; classical music, pump organ, traveling and her 14 year nursing career. She graduated from Lancaster High School in 1951. She attended Gustavus Adolphus College (Swedish Lutheran), in St. Peter, MN 1952 pre-nursing and graduated with a diploma degree in nursing from Bethesda Hospital- School of Nursing, St. Paul, MN 1954. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Maine in 1998. Marilyn was a skilled registered nurse whose highlights were as a Director of Nursing-Kittson Memorial Hospital, Hallock, MN 1956-1958; and as the University of Minnesota Diabetic Nurse Specialist. Marilyn was also a step-mother for 35 years to Kathy Wilson who was 6 years old when Marilyn and David married. Marilyn had no birth children of her own but many loving nieces and nephews- who visited her- and will miss her. After her husband’s death, she moved to Ft. Collins, CO to be close to Larry J. & Sharyn H. Salmen, her oldest niece and guardian of person since 3/2009. Marilyn was Sharyn’s inspiration and role model as a nurse. Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents, Adolph and Ellen Mortenson Halverson; her husband, Phillip David Wilson; her stepdaughter, Kathryn Lee Wilson Cashwell, her brothers-Merle, Dale, Robert, John, and Harvey Halverson; her brother-in-law James Wilson and her nephew-Greg Halverson. She is survived by 16 Halverson nieces and nephews: Ellen G. Halverson; Betsy H. (Joe) Dehler; Sharyn( Larry) H. Salmen; Susan ( Rick) H. Savolainen; Debra ( Jim) H. Blanner; David ( Karen) D. Halverson; Duane ( Alison) A. Halverson; Todd J. Halverson, Kent M. Halverson; Donald ( Patty) Halverson; Darrel ( Jennifer) Halverson; Lynne Tissier Halverson, Joan H. Rosenberg; Jim ( Linda) Halverson; Matthew Halverson, Lane Halverson. She also is survived by her 3 Wilson, nieces and nephews: Kristen McHenry; James Wilson, Kenneth Wilson. In addition she has many extended Halverson, Mortenson, and Wilson family members who love her.

Celebration of her life will be at three locations: 1) a ceremony at Trinity Lutheran Church, Ft Collins, CO on Thursday Dec 11, 2014 at 10:30 am. 2) A private gravesite ceremony with her ashes next to her husband Phillip David Wilson and her stepdaughter Kathryn Lee Wilson Cashwell, at Plainview Cemetery, Plainview, TX, date TBD; 3) a ceremony at Sion Lutheran Church, Lancaster, MN, date TBD. 4) A family gravesite ceremony with her ashes next to her parents Adolph & Ellen Halverson at River View Memorial Cemetery in Lancaster, MN. In lieu of flowers (no flowers please), the family requests memorials be made to Alzheimer’s Association in Fort Collins, CO, or Pathways Hospice, in Fort Collins, CO; or to Trinity Lutheran Church- Worship & Music Fort Collins, CO; Arrangements are by Allnutt Funeral Homes, Ft. Collins, CO. The family thanks MacKenzie Place-Memory Care; Alzheimer’s Association, Lemay Avenue Health & Rehab; and Pathways Hospice for their excellent care.