Nancy Burley

Nancy Jean Burley, age 69, passed away due to natural causes in her home in Casselton ND on December 31, 2025. She was born May 28, 1956, the fourth child of Arlo and Dorothea (Franck) Frimml of Winthrop, Iowa.

Her years at East Buchanan schools are most remembered for her hilarious impersonations of Laugh In characters, Mae West, and more. Her wide ranging artistic talents led her to the University of Northern Iowa to major in art education. Inheriting her mother’s hairdresser skills, she simultaneously completed a degree at a nearby cosmetology school.

She began her teaching career in Brooklyn, Iowa. Later she continued teaching in Battle Lake MN where she had moved with first husband, Mike Berry. She incorporated activities in her art classes to help students deal with and express their feelings. She eventually pursued hairdressing full time, working at care centers and for area salons.

Nancy enjoyed attending conferences in various states to develop her skills in hair cutting and coloring, reflexology and other natural healing modalities; along with spiritual growth seminars. She loved to make people laugh; always having a joke ready to tell her customers. She shared her creativity at local events doing face painting, makeovers, fun art activities for kids, and such.

Her love of dancing eventually led to her meeting Harold Burley. They wed May 2005. He worked for area farm operations and Nancy opened her own beauty shop in their Casselton home. Thus she was able to care for Harold most of his final two years of various health issues complicated by dementia. Mourning his passing, dealing with diabetes and vertigo, plus profound hearing loss drained the once vivacious and energetic Nancy. Nonetheless, her love of and dependence upon her savior Jesus Christ continued to intensify.

Heaven now rings with that hearty, infectious, one-of-a kind laugh that those of us left behind now miss so deeply.

Preceding Nancy in death were her father (1960); mother (2001); and husband (2021). She is survived by her siblings: Susan Williams, (Longmont CO), Roger Frimml (Ottumwa IA) and Jane Easton (Ames IA), along with six nieces and two nephews.

A memorial service will be held late spring at West Funeral Home Chapel in Casselton. Condolences can be posted on the tribute wall at westfuneralhome.com.  Memorials will go to ND Assistive (ndassistive.org/donate ) to enable others to acquire hearing aids before their loss reaches the profound level that Nancy's did.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

Casselton, North Dakota 58012

westfuneralhome.com 

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