Avis Joan Nelson, 89, of Valley City, ND formerly Litchville, ND passed away Tuesday, August 3, 2021 in CHI Mercy Hospital, Valley City surrounded by her family.
Visitation will be THURSDAY, August 5 at Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. The funeral service will be 2:00 pm, SATURDAY, August 7, 2021 at First Lutheran Church, Litchville. Inurnment will be at Northland Cemetery, Kathryn, ND.

Avis Joan Severson was born on October 21, 1931 in rural Fort Ransom, ND. She was the youngest daughter of Gust and Marie (Sunne) Severson joining her sister Helen. Avis attended a rural school until her family moved to Fort Ransom where she graduated from high school in 1949. While in high school, she worked at Larson’s Grocery Store, Carblom’s Café and babysat.

In 1950, she married James T. Nelson. They farmed in the Kathryn, ND area before moving to Seattle, WA in 1962, with their five children. In 1965, they returned to North Dakota settling in Litchville, ND. While in Litchville, Avis worked at local cafes and The Tasty Treat and washed dishes at the school.
Avis was an active member of the First Lutheran Church, Litchville. She enjoyed quilting, Ladies Aid, circle, serving on the Litchville Museum board and the Northland Cemetery board.

Jim and Avis attended many basketball games in Litchville and later Marion and Sanborn where their granddaughters played.
In retirement, Avis enjoyed going to auctions, playing cards with good friends, coffee with the local ladies and trips to the lakes and Wisconsin with family. She was always in charge of the yearly family picnic.

Avis is survived by her five children, Margie Nelson, Rebecca (Thomas) Baertsch, Gerald (Katherine) Nelson, Russell Nelson and Andrew (Tracy) Nelson and eight grandchildren. She was greatly blessed with five great grandchildren. Avis is also survived by her sister, Helen (Vernon) Huseby; longtime friend Donna Peterson and many Rudolf Square friends.

Avis is preceded in death by her parents, husband James, sister- in- law Audrey Sorby and brother-in-law Curtis Sorby.
Memorials may be directed to the Northland Cemetery, Kathryn, ND. The family would like to extend a special thank you the staff at CHI Mercy Hospital.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City, ND. An online guestbook is available at olivernathanchapel.com