Clarette Ann Nelson

 Clarette Ann Nelson, age 89 of St. Anthony MN, previously of Brooten, MN passed away peacefully on January 23, 2025, with members of her family surrounding her.

Funeral services will be February 1, 2025, at 11:00 AM in the North Heights Lutheran Church Chapel located at 1700 Highway 96 W, Door B, Arden Hills. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. This service will also be available for viewing online at www.northheights.church, select messages, then watch live Arden Hills at 11:00am CST.  A private family Interment will be held at Frank Lake Cemetery, in Murdock MN at a later date. 

Clarette was born on January 24, 1935, to Tilbert and Gilma Olson on a cold winter’s day at the home of Carl and Bertina Carlson. She was baptized at Sunburg Lutheran church and confirmed at Frank Lake Covenant Church. She attended multiple schools in rural Murdock through the 8th grade. She was the yearbook editor, graduated Salutatorian from Murdock High School with the nickname “Ole”. 

On March 6, 1953, she married Hanley Wiig, and from that union her sons Mark and Scott were born. Hanley and Clarette were divorced; but remained friends later in life. Clarette married Harold Nelson in June 1975 and divorced a short time later.  

Clarette started her career working at the banks in Murdock and Willmar, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis followed by a lengthy tenure at the Bonanza Valley State Bank, and ended her career working at Hennepin County Medical Center. In retirement, she worked part-time at the North Heights Lutheran Church bookstore.

As an adult, Clarette attended church in Brooten at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and when she moved to the Twin Cities she attended North Heights Lutheran Church. While attending Our Saviors Lutheran Church; she was a member of the Joyful Messengers, touching lives through song and the spoken word. Clarette was an active member of North Heights church and participated in various ministries: Young at Heart, Operation Christmas Child, Friday Morning Bible Study and the Weekly Prayer Warrior Meetings. She was a choir member and part of the cast of the annual Easter Production, The Passion Play.  

Throughout her life, Clarette traveled both domestically and internationally with friends and family. Clarette volunteered with the City of Columbia Heights, maintaining and planting the City’s flower beds. She participated in numerous senior exercise programs sponsored by the City of Columbia Heights. 

Clarette loved Scandinavian cooking, her ability to make lefse as well as other Scandinavian treats was well known. She would come to Holiday gatherings well stocked to share lefse with family or friends. She was also known to give packages of lefse to neighbors and friends. She strived to teach her children and grandchildren how to continue the lefse making tradition.

She is survived by her sons: Mark (Valerie) Wiig of Columbia Heights, Scott (Roberta) Wiig of Rosemount; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; brother Gary (Deborah) Olson of Brooten, MN and sister Janice (Phillip) Damhof of Blomkest, MN. Numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Tilbert and Gilma Olson.

The family would like to extend a Special Thank You to every member of the staff at Chandler Place for their loving care and support for Clarette while she was a resident there. We would also like to thank the Doctors and Nurses at Allina – Unity Hospital for their loving care and support for Clarette during her short stay there. We are forever grateful to all of you.