Alice E. Braniff

Alice Eleanor Braniff passed away on her 89th birthday, March 8, 2014. Alice Nelson was born to John Marius Nelson and Bessie Bjorge Nelson on the family farm in Nelson County, North Dakota in 1925. She graduated from Lakota High School in 1943 and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from the University of North Dakota. After graduation she went on to work at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, the Veterans Hospital in Minneapolis, and the Columbus Hospital in Great Falls. She was united in marriage on August 11, 1956 to Donald Braniff at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Doyon, ND. The couple raised four children and made their home in Moorhead.

Alice was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, since 1957 and volunteered there for over 30 years. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed golfing well into her 80s, recording two holes-in-one along the way. Even at 70+ years old she could play 27 holes, walking the first 18 and taking a cart for the last nine. She also volunteered countless hours at the Ponderosa Golf Course.

Alice was an accomplished seamstress and sewed many clothes for her nieces and children. She loved to cook and will always be remembered for her caramel rolls, apple bars, rhubarb pie, meatballs and chicken dumplings. She loved to travel and play cards – she was a competitive opponent. Her zest for life and enthusiasm will be missed by many.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Donald; four children, Karen Lee Thoreson, Climax, MN, Julie Knowles, Chaska, MN, David Braniff, Minneapolis, MN, William Braniff, Minneapolis, MN; eight grandchildren, Bradley, Elizabeth and Connor Thoreson, Andrew, Matthew and Eleanor Knowles, Dylan and Shannon Braniff; sister, June Roger Martinson, Devils Lake, ND; many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Alice was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Norman Nelson and Marlyn Nelson, sisters, Betty Clarine Erickson and Margaret Johnson, an infant daughter and an infant son.

Visitation: Tuesday, March 11, from 1 – 2 p.m., with prayer service at 2 p.m., in Touchmark at Harwood Groves, Fargo, ND, and will continue from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead.

Funeral: Wednesday, March 12, at 10:30 a.m., in Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN.

Interment: Lakota Cemetery, Lakota, ND