Anna Kraft Nielsen, 89, went home to God Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at the Villa St Vincent in Crookston, MN. She was born on September 1, 1932, to Jacob and Anna (Mosset) Kraft on the family farm in Sioux County, ND (Standing Rock Indian Reservation). Raised in a German-speaking Catholic home, Anna learned to speak English attending country schools. She left school at the age of 14, having completed the 8th grade, and went to work as a “hired girl” for a neighbor.
At the age of 18, she met her life-long love, LeRoy Nielsen, when her brother, Frank, brought him to the family farm while they were both on leave from the Army. They married in 1951 and moved to Port Townson, WA where LeRoy completed his military service. Their first son, Thomas, was born in 1952. From Washington, they moved to Hoople ND where LeRoy worked for a local farmer, and their second son, Jeffery, was born. In 1957. They later settled on a farm near Euclid, MN, raising dairy cattle, small grains, and corn, and added 3 daughters: Valorie, Vanessa, and Marilyn to the family. In 1970 they sold the farm and moved to Crookston. There Ann worked for RiverView Healthcare, first as a nurse’s aid, and later as health unit coordinator, while LeRoy was employed with the American Crystal Sugar Company. The couple retired in 1993 and lived the good life, summering in their home on Lake of the Woods and wintering in Alamo, TX.
Ann was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Catholic Daughters for over 50 years, serving many of those years in various officer’s positions. She also served 20 years on the Homeowners Association Board for their neighborhood in Alamo Tx. She and LeRoy spent many long summer days volunteering their time at Rollag, MN for the annual Steam Threshers Reunion. She loved her children and grandchildren, golfing, fishing, gardening, travel, and a couple of stiff brandy and waters every night.
Ann was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy; daughter, Marilyn Crombie; her parents; sister, Edith Kraft Flohr; and brother, Tony Kraft. She is survived by her 2 sons, Tom (Diane) of Bountiful, UT, and Jeff (Cory) of Crookston, MN; and 2 daughters, Valorie Tuseth of Beltrami, MN and Vanessa Nielsen (Donovon Horrigan) of Ogilvie, MN; 5 brothers: Frank (Francis), William, Jacob (Vernetta), Victor (Kathy), and Alvin (Betty); and sister, Arlene Walch.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, October 2, 2021, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston, MN. Visitation with the family will be for one hour prior to the service. The Mass will be live-streamed by logging on to www.crookstoncathedral.com 10 minutes before the scheduled start and clicking on the prompt at the top of the page to view. Inurnment will follow at Prairie View Cemetery in Euclid, MN.
Online registry and messages of condolence may be made at www.stenshoelhouske.com
Tags:
