Persis Nelson died peacefully on March 11, 2021, at the Marshfield Healthcare Center at the age of 84. Persis was born in Chicago, Illinois, March 30, 1936, to Joseph and Eva Nelson, Swedish immigrants who later became U.S. citizens. in 1940 the family moved to a farm near Pittsville, WI. Persis graduated from Pittsville High School in 1954 and continued her education at Wood County Normal School. She taught in a one-room country school before continuing her education at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. After completing her graduate studies at the University of Minnesota in Library Science, Persis became a school librarian in Wisconsin Rapids. Her many interests included reading, gardening, and travel.
Persis returned to help on the family dairy farm in the town of Cary, WI, and to care for her mother. After her mother's death, she and her brother, Philip, continued farming until they retired, sold the farm and moved to Marshfield. She was pre-deceased by her parents and older brothers, Philip and Paul. She is survived by her loving sisters; Phebe Baty (Redlands, CA) and Ruth Winters (Bemdji, MN), as well as eleven nieces and nephews in their families.
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