Ana Jo Nelson

Dec. 18, 1935-Oct. 14, 2018

Ana Jo Nelson, 82,

Minot, died Sunday, Oc-

tober 14, 2018 in a Minot

hospital.

Ana Jo was born De-

cember 18, 1935 in Semi-

nole, Oklahoma to Alvin

and Vesta (Watkins) Ar-

rington. As a child during

the gasoline rationing

years of WW-2, she trav-

eled with her migrant

farm-working family in a

covered wagon as they

journeyed to their various

work locations in the mid-

west. Her family eventual-ly settled in southern Cal-

ifornia. She attended

school in San Diego and

graduated from high

school in 1953.

Ana Jo joined the work-

ing world in high school

as a waitress and cook at a

Mexican Restaurant. After

high school she remained

in the food industry and

was the manager of a

donut shop for a number

of years and also worked

in the public school sys-

tem as a baker.

In 1961, she offered a

steak to young man in the

Marine Corps, Clifford

Nelson, Sr. It was

prepared perfectly and the

rest is history. They were

united in marriage on

September 1, 1962 in Gar-

den Grove, CA. They

made their home in Cali-

fornia for the next ten

years until moving to

Minot in 1972.

Ana Jo was a wonderful

mother and an eager

friend to anyone in need.

There was always an open

door to the Nelson house

and food was always on

the table. Her homemade

from scratch enchiladas

and tacos were second to

none and enjoyed by

many throughout the

years. She provided day-

care to many families in

the neighborhood and a

helping hand to those in

tougher situations at

home. Ana Jo also owned

and operated Jo’s Cafe and

the Hockey Stop Cafe for

many years in the com-

munity.

She was a member of

Bethany Lutheran Church

of Minot, Minot Skating

Club and was a past

member of the Minot

Moose Lodge. Ana Jo en-

joyed reading and has

quilted for many years.

She will be missed deeply

by all who knew her as a

wife, mother, grandmoth-

er, sister and friend.

Ana is survived by her

loving husband of 56

years Clifford Nelson Sr.,

Minot; children, Jaunie

Nelson, Buena Park, CA,

Clifford ‘Skip’ Nelson, Jr.,

Thor (Jessica) Nelson, and

Kathy (David) Myers, all

of Minot, ND; grandchil-

dren, Hannah, Thor, Odin

and Rhone Nelson and

Leif Nelson, all of Minot

ND; brother, Jack (Carol)

Arrington, Anacortes,

WA; sister, Patricia

(Richard) Spaulding, San

Diego, CA; brother, Floyd

Arrington, OK; along with

a number of nieces and

nephews.

Ana was preceded in

death by her parents; an

infant brother, Dan Ray

Arrington; and brother,

John Dale Arrington.

Celebration of Ana’s

Life: 11:00 a.m. Friday,

October 19, 2018 at

Bethany Lutheran

Church, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill

Memorial Park, Minot

Visitation: Thursday,

October 18, 2018 from

3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

at the Thomas Family

Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred

to Minot Public Schools

Music Departments.

Those wishing to sign

the online memorial regis-

ter or share memories and

condolences are invited to

use the expression of

sympathy section at

www.thomasfamily

funeralhome.com.