Petra Nelson, 94, died on Friday, June 11, 2004 at the Good Samaritan Center in Devils Lake, ND.

Petra Johnson was born on December 29, 1909 at Eckvoll Township, Marshall County, Minnesota the daughter of James A. and Clara (Moen) Johnson. She attended country school near Grygla, MN.

She worked as a housekeeper for area farmers around Grygla and Gatzke. She met Albert P. Nelson while working, and they were united in marriage on September 17, 1937. The couple made their home and farmed in Rollis Township near Gatzke, and on March 27, 1940 they were blessed with a daughter, Donna Mae. They farmed until Alberts death in November of 1959. Petra then lived with her niece, Pearl Klaven in Thief River Falls for a short time before moving to Anchorage, Alaska. She and Anna Agre owned and operated a janitorial service until 1972 when she returned to Thief River Falls and went to work for Valley Home. Eventually she went to Warren and worked at Good Samaritan Center. Petra returned to Thief River Falls to care for her sister Alma Klaven and in 1998 she moved to the Oakland Park Nursing Home and 2001 she moved to the Good Samaritan Center in Devils Lake, ND to be closer to her daughter and family.

Petra enjoyed gardening, canning, baking, helping others and loved and enjoyed babysitting children.

She is survived by her daughter Donna Mae (Charles) Reese, Devils Lake; grandchildren Annette (Todd) Hillebrand, Devils Lake, Craig Reese, International Falls, MN, Alan Frislie, Roberts, ID, Douglas Reese, Devils Lake/Alaska, Debbie (Gene) Biever, Anchorage, AK, Cheryl (Scott) Engh, Devils Lake, Kathryn (Mike) Kramer, Mahomen, MN; 18 great grandchildren Holly Mattern, Frankie Reese, Brandon Mattern, Douglas Resse, Diana Reese, Dustin Reese, Danielle Biever, Alisha Engh, Derek Reese, Linda Reese, Carrie Hillebrand, Brittany Biever, Daniel Reese, Gerald Engh, Cameron Biever, Hannah Christianson, Kassidy Christianson-Kramer and Hunter Hillebrand; special nieces Pearl Klaven, Thief River Falls, Audrey (Wendell) Teigland, Thief River Falls; and Marie Bimler of Grand Forks, ND; special nephews, Clayton Klaven, Thief River Falls, Benny Klaven, Thief River Falls, Gilmore Klaven, East Grand Forks, MN; great niece Stephanie Fimrite, Thief River Falls and many more nieces and nephews.

Over the years Petra also did childcare. A are just a few of the children that had a special place in her heart. Scott, Jordan, Tammy, Travis, Tim and Eyvonne.

Petra is preceded in death by her husband Albert, November of 1959 and grandson Robert John Frislie, May of 1974; brothers and sisters, Anna Jacobson, Julia Kolstad, Alma Klaven, Ed Johnson, Tommy Johnson.

PIANIST: Linda Olson
SOLOIST: Bonnie Nelson
SELECTIONS: The Masters Bouquet and In The Garden
SOLOIST: Alisha Engh
SELECTION: Amazing Grace
PALLBEARERS: Petras Grandchildren