Maurice “Morrie” Orval Nissen

Maurice Orval Nissen, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and question-asker, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2017 at his home in rural Hitterdal under the care of family and Hospice of the Red River Valley. He handled his brain cancer diagnosis with grace and dignity, spending six months surrounded by loved ones before going home to his Heavenly Father.

Morrie delighted in conversing with everyone and would pepper those in his company with questions about their work, their life goals, the news of the day. No matter the topic or the interview subject, Morrie always had a way of making the conversation feel less like an interrogation and more like a welcoming arm around the shoulder to join in the fun.

Morrie was born on Dec. 6, 1941 to parents Nanning and Marie Chell Nissen in Fergus Falls. He graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1961, went on to study at Fergus Falls Junior College and earned his B.A. from Moorhead State University in 1965 and earned his B.S. in 1966. He furthered his education with graduate work in Childhood Development, Family Relations and Counseling.

Morrie married Helga Kvasager on Aug. 28, 1965 at Salem Lutheran Church in rural Oklee. The couple lived in Moorhead, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Ada and Dale before settling at their forever home in Hitterdal in 1971.

Morrie was a long time member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hawley where he was active in church council, Sunday school and youth group. After its closure he joined Salem Lutheran Church in Hitterdal.

A man of many trades with an adventurous spirit, Morrie was a teacher, a farmer, a caregiver, an amateur woodworker and a professional break taker.

He taught Special Education at Council Bluffs, Iowa from 1966-67 then taught in Ada from 1967-1982. He was nominated for Teacher of the Year in 1974 and 1979 and received the Outstanding Service Award from the Minnesota ARC in 1975.

Morrie and Helga operated Nissen Dairy Farm from 1979 to 1994. He worked for Fraser LTD of Fargo and Access of Moorhead before spending 16 years at CCRI of Moorhead helping special needs adults. While at CCRI he received many awards for his creativity, ingenuity and an ability to make those he helped feel productive and valued.

He often enlisted help from his children and grandchildren for odd projects around the farm – adding peanut butter to the birdfeeders, tending to the fence around the chickens, carving and painting a toy barn for a child – and those tasks would invariably include several breaks for snacks and likely a nap as well.

Morrie is survived by his wife Helga, sons Erik Denise, Aaron Holly and Kristoffer Stacy, daughter Gretchen Jon Krawczynski, grandchildren Hunter and Tanner Nissen, Kolby and Caleb Nissen and Owen and Nita Krawczynski. Sister Lorayne Richard Radde. Sisters-in-law: Beverly Nissen, Anne Manthei, Gerda Arlan Koskela. Brothers-in-law: Bjarne Kvasager, Goodwin Lucille Kvasager, Einar Carol Kvasager, dear friend Mike Suzanne Petersen, many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by parents Nanning and Marie, brothers Norman Eunice and Lowell, nephews Jeremy Nissen, Jacob Radde and Todd Manthei.

Visitation: Friday, June 30, 2017, from 5:00-7:00PM with a prayer service beginning at 7:00PM at Wright Funeral Home in Hawley, MN.

Service: Saturday, July 1, 2017, at 11:00AM at Salem Lutheran Church in Hitterdal, MN.

Burial: Saturday, July 1, 2017, at Dale Immanuel Cemetery following services in Hitterdal.