Nancy Elliott Jane Simonds Elliott entered life in Oneonta, New York on April 5, 1937. Nancy was the fifth of 11 children of Frances and Francis (Beams) Simonds. Nancy, 82, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at her home in Riverdale, North Dakota, losing her battle with MDS (cancer).
A Celebration of Nancy's life will be held on Tuesday at 2:00 pm at the Riverdale Community Church in Riverdale. Burial will be at the Coleharbor Cemetery.
Nancy lit up her part of the world with the smile and the personality which attracted Donald to her 64-plus years ago. Initially stationed in Niagara Falls for six months (longest honeymoon ever) they lived the vagabond life of a military family, traveling with their children on stints to Okinawa, Florida, Montana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Idaho and three times to North Dakota, the state they'd finally call home. All along this path Nancy's twinkling eyes and desire to help and serve all around her made her friends who loved her and will miss her.
Nancy delighted in being near people, in talking with them, in finding out how she could help them. These natural tendencies made her a "Super" salesperson while she worked at Sears in Minot and later helped Rick Longtin run the Honeyhole convenience store in Riverdale. She devoted any needed time and energy to helping her daughters and their children. She loved people so much that after working long hours, she devoted time to community efforts such as being part of the Riverdale city council for a number of years.
Having fun seemed a natural extension of her personality. Her clever hands and quick mind made her an excellent quilter who often donated quilts to help others. Nancy loved sports and recreation. She an Donald fished and camped together across the country. Along with her daughter Linda and husband Jim, Nancy tore up sod on a new golf course nearly every weekend for the last five years.
Nancy and Donald spent many winters at their daughter Lezlee's home. While there she enjoyed sewing and quilting, cooking, and spending time on the patio with a cold beer watching the lake. When weather allowed, Nancey would golf with grandson Caleb.
While she left Oneonta as a home, she never left her family, often visiting them and taking trips together with her sisters. A highlight excursion was the trip Nancy took to Ireland with her sisters. Recently, three of her sisters and two nieces spent time in Riverdale. The laughter never ceased.
She leaves behind her husband Donald Elliott and daughters Lezlee Messick of Zwolle, LA. and Linda (Jim) Miller of Minot, ND. Nancy is also survived by three grandchildren: Jared (Natasha) Miller, California and their children Nazmoon, Elliott, and Damion; Tara (Col Scott) Brodeur Vandenberg AFB and their children Jessie, Jameson, and Jillian; Caleb and his son Zackery (Nichole) Johnson and their children, Zander and Stella. Her sisters Dorothy Gill, Margaret Sorensen, Belva Liscott and brothers Russell and Paul, all of Oneonta, NY, and several nieces and nephews also remain.
Nancy's life was well lived. She loved Jesus and her church, her family and friends, and anyone will to share conversation. Her passing leaves a huge void in world.