Nellie Fransen

NELLIE JANET FRANSEN was born on May 20, 1927, to John and Frieda (Halbersma) Van Lant in Murray County, Minnesota. Nellie was the middle child, being born seventh of thirteen children. Following her education at the country school in Chandler, she returned home to help. She also worked for numerous families after a new baby was born. Later, Nellie worked in Edgerton, Minnesota, at the Farmer’s Store. On March 27, 1946, Nellie married Art Fransen at the Memorial Hall in Edgerton. This union was blessed with four children. 

Art and Nellie farmed near Edgerton and Leota, Minnesota, for most of their active years, until 1960 when they moved into Edgerton. Art became the custodian at the public school and Nellie owned and operated the Coffee Shop in town. Nellie also worked at the lunch counter at the sale barn. She was a member of the First Reformed Church in Edgerton. After they retired, and after Art’s death in 1992, Nellie continued to live in their home in Edgerton before moving to the Edgebrook Care Center on July 22, 2013, where she passed away on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at the age of 92 years, 3 months, and 22 days. 

She is remembered by her children, Sharon Loenhorst of Orange, California, Carla (Dave) Sheetenhelm of Concord, California, and Eunice Deremo of South Pasadena, Florida; grandchildren, Chris (Jirawan) Deremo, Matthew Matti, Alison Cooper, Danielle Sheetenhelm, Ryan Fransen, and Erika (Greg Agee) Sheetenhelm, great-grandchildren, Carey Chapman, Layne Chapman, and Henry Agee; siblings, Cornie Van Lant, Francis Anker, Elsie Ver Hey, and Rose (Art) Bleyenburg; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Van Lant; and many Fransen relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband, Art; son, Ken; son-in-law, Gary Loenhorst; siblings, Eva (Ed) Prins, Henrietta (Dick) Ruiter, Edna (Gerrit) Van Dyke, Lillian (Alvin) Gilman, Alberta (Harold) Gilman, Janet (Raymond) Hesse, Lawrence Van Lant, and John (Betty) Van Lant; siblings-in-law, Jean Van Lant, Art Ver Hey and Marvin Anker; and many of Art’s siblings and their spouses.

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