Barbara Nelson

Barbara Ann Radermacher was born to William and Grace (Jendro) Radermacher on April 2, 1934 – a brisk early spring day in Fargo, North Dakota.

Barb, or Bobbie as she was affectionally called as a young girl, grew up on Bill and Grace’s farm, just North of Casselton. She was crowned Miss Casselton in 1950 and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1952. Barb then became a dental hygienist assistant at the Slominski Dental Office in Fargo.

In 1954, Barb married the man she would spend the rest of her life with, Ralph Lynn Nelson. They were a loving couple first and foremost. Together, they started a family and a farm near Wheatland, North Dakota.

Ralph focused on the field, and Barb managed the “books,” cooking for the family and several hired men while keeping the house immaculate. She did all this with the help of their four daughters. Barb also helped manage field operations using a business band radio “Base” to connect everyone, passing along messages, getting parts and delivering food when and where it was needed.  

Barb cared for her children with love and kindness, but firmness, too. She taught them how to create, how to improve their surroundings, appreciate art, and the finer things, and to add beauty to any environment. Barb brought her style to the farm, painting, papering, decorating the house and planting flowers each spring.

She cared for Ralph, too, and they were a pair — not perfect people, but a perfect couple. Together, they prepared their children for life. For more than 70 years Barb and Ralph experienced life’s ups and downs together, including the tragic losses of their son, Ralph, and, later, their grandson, Hayden. They enjoyed life as a couple, hosting parties, traveling to Palm Springs, California, winter after winter, and were never apart for very long.

Barb was a mother through and through. She loved babies, and when asked what her greatest joy was, Barb said it was her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and she was blessed with 43 beautiful grands.

Barb faced cancer, dementia and death with the same beautiful smile, humor, great faith and gratitude that carried her through life, rarely complaining — worried more about those around her than herself. Her legacy is the family she guided and the people she touched with her kindness, humility and love.

Barb is survived by daughters: Marty (Jim) Saunders, Ann (Lannie) Runck, Beth (Mark) Sundet and Mary Jane (Mike) Montplaisir; sons: Brian (Kim) Nelson and Tom (Andrea) Nelson; 19 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren, totaling 43; siblings and in-laws: Carol Radermacher, Dennis and Kerry Radermacher, Alan and Mary Lou Radermacher, Bill Radermacher Jr., Gene and Bea Radermacher, Susan and Paul Hubbard, Lila Thoen, Kay Welk and Joann Radermacher and Betty Nelson Howe.

Barb was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ralph; a son, Ralph Paul Nelson; and a grandson, Hayden Thomas Nelson; her parents, William and Grace Radermacher; siblings and in-laws: Mary and Jim Eberhardt, Charles Radermacher, Ronnie  Radermacher Leo Welk, Beth Radermacher and Marty Thoen, Otis and Martha Nelson; Muriel and Dick Marschke, Lucille and Irvin Boyce, Verna and Wayne Hocking, Lorraine and Robert Kapaun, Kathryn and Dick Christian, Lawrence and Helen Nelson, Howard and Georgine Nelson, and Otis Nelson Jr.

Visitation: Sunday, July 12, 2026 from 6 to 7 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Casselton.

Funeral Mass: Monday, July 13 at 3 PM at St. Leo’s Catholic Church with visitation one hour prior.

Burial: Casselton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Community of Care.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara Nelson, please visit our floral store.