Judith C. Nord

Judith Cecelia Nord, 96, died Saturday, December 18, 2004 at Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead, MN. Judith was born November 21, 1908, in Wolverton, MN. She was one of fourteen children of Charles and Julia Eklo Nord, Swedish and Norwegian immigrants who were pioneer farmers in the Red River Valley. Raised on the family farm, Judith was active in 4-H and graduated from Wolverton High School in 1926. In 1929 Judith traveled from Wolverton with her mother Julia, sister Adella, brothers Winton and Willys to visit their sister Dagny in Puyallup, Washington. They traveled in a newly purchased 1929 Durant automobile, entirely on dirt roads, and camped along the way. Judith graduated from Concordia College in 1931 with a BA in Home Economics. She put herself through college working as the caregiver for the children of the president of the college, while living in their home on campus. After graduating, Judith taught home economics at the high school in Hallock, MN and later at the Ann Carlson School for Crippled Children in Jamestown, ND. She joined the University of Minnesota Extension service in 1945 as the first Home Economics agent for West Ottertail County. She lived in Fergus Falls and was very active in supporting the county 4-H youth program and as a member of First Lutheran Church. In 1957, Judith took a sabbatical leave to study for a year in Norway. She studied in several folk schools and lived in homes, learning traditional Norwegian cooking and home crafts, and acquainting herself with many relatives and Scandinavian countries. As a result, she was able to pass on the family's rich Scandinavian roots to her family members in America. Judith was promoted to a full professor by the University of Minnesota in 1970, prior to her retirement in 1974. She traveled extensively during her retirement, including trips to China and Scandinavia. Judith was deeply devoted to her family, frequently caring for her mother who lived on the family farm for 62 years until her death in 1955. She devoted her winters to visiting and later caring for her sister Dagny in Puyallup, Washington. Judith moved to live at the Fairmont Home in Fargo, ND in 1993, and later moved to Eventide in Moorhead in 1999. She was a long time sufferer of Alzheimer's disease. Judith is survived by nineteen nieces and nephews and their families. She lived life in joy and service to others and she will be deeply missed.Memorials preferred to either Faith Lutheran Church, Wolverton, MN or the Minnesota 4-H Foundation, 200 Oak Street SE, Room 270, Minneapolis, MN 55455.