Gail A. Nelson, 76, Harvey, North Dakota passed away Friday, March 11, 2022 at St. Aloisius Medical Center, Harvey, North Dakota.  Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Viking Lutheran Church, rural Maddock, North Dakota.  Rev. Cassie Borges will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery later in the spring.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Home, Fessenden, North Dakota.  The service can be viewed by livestream on the Viking Lutheran Church Facebook page.

Gail Ann Stadig, daughter of Lloyd and Doris (Grise) Stadig was born November 15, 1945, in Rugby, ND.  She was raised on the Stadig farm in Isabel Township.  She attended 1 ^st grade in Silva, ND, where her mother taught school and then she went to Isabel through 8 ^th grade.  The next step in her educational journey was BCATS in Maddock, graduating in 1962.  Off to Fargo she went.  She gave NDSU a try, before switching to Interstate Business College, earning a secretarial degree.

On Dec. 3, 1963, she was united in marriage to Byron Nelson in the Little Brown Church at Nashua, Iowa.  After their marriage they resided in Norway Lake Township where Gail remained until her passing.  It's here where she creatively designed and nurtured her "Mini Peace Gardens".  Gail was an avid reader, enjoying fiction and historical fiction genres.  Through the years, she built up quite a library.  We will not forget the love she had for organizing, cooking, and entertaining for family and friends.  Each year she looked forward to hosting the Memorial Home residents at her farm, treating them to a meal of fresh garden produce and a grand tour of the yard.

Gail worked hard and dedicated her life to her family and the family farm.  She loved her grandchildren and supported them by attending their many activities, even wearing gold shoes as part of her spirit attire.  "Go Bobcats, Go!!"  Upon Byron's retirement from farming, she passionately dedicated about 20 years of her life to the residents of the Maddock Memorial Home, where she was a cook.

Gail was a member of Viking Lutheran Church and served on the church board.  She also served on the Maddock School Board.

She is survived by her children, Shelly (Jack) Kallenbach of Esmond, Nikki (Rob) Schneider of Bismarck, and daughter-in-law, Jill Nelson of Bismarck; grandchildren, Jamie (Cassie) Kallenbach, Kara (Mike) Jacobs, Jordan (Joanna Hogness) Nelson, Bree Nelson, Mariah Lawson, Bob Schneider, and Samera (Jace Carroll) Schneider; great grandchildren, Nora Hulberg, Rhett & Remi Kallenbach, and Cooper Jacobs; sister-in-law: Patti Stadig, and nieces: Kasie & Kari Stadig.

Gail was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Byron; son, Perry; brother, Loren; & significant other, Barry Grondahl.