Margaret "Betty" Elizabeth (Closson) Nelson

Margaret Elizabeth (Closson) Nelson, known to most as Betty, was born on August 21, 1932. Betty was the eldest daughter and third child to Roy (Buck) and Gladys Closson. The homestead Betty grew up on was east of Archerwill (SW10-40-13-W2nd) with a house and barn that her dad proudly built from the logs he had on the land.

Betty’s elementary school education was in Port Arthur School located near her homestead. She went to high school in Archerwill, followed by Normal School in Saskatoon. Her first job as a teacher was in West Shore near Nora and she was always very proud to say that she boarded with the Bjerland family for those first years. The other schools she worked in were Dahlton, Robbinsdale, Fosston, and Archerwill. She loved her career in teaching and frequently reminisced about her days as a teacher and the kids she taught. She took great joy in seeing her former students all grown up with careers and families.

Betty and Clifford Nelson married on July 6, 1953, at the Dahlton Lutheran Church. Together they lived on the Nelson homestead (NW22-40-15 W2nd). They lived one year with Clifford’s parents, until their own home was built nearby. It was a cozy 20 ft by 24ft - 3 room house. In 1964, Clifford’s parents moved off the farm, and in 1967 they built a larger home that they enjoyed for over 50 years.

Following the lead of her mom, Betty sewed and quilted for many years with the Ladies Auxiliary where the ladies would gather and quilt for the afternoon. Betty made most of her clothes while teaching and gave many of her quilts away to family. Betty retired in 1984, and together she and Clifford farmed and operated a trucking business until the late 1990’s. In their later years they both enjoyed the horse races and followed them all over eastern Saskatchewan each summer with their fifth wheel. They also enjoyed square dancing, hosting their families in the summer and coffee time with friends, and family that may have dropped by the farm.

Clifford and Betty were married for 68 years before Clifford’s passing on August 16, 2021. She remained on the family farm until the summer of 2023 when she moved to Cumberland Villa in Tisdale. She found herself enjoying some new and rekindled friendships in her new surroundings. She was there until the summer of 2025 when she moved to Arborfield Care Home and at last to Newmarket Place until her passing.

Betty is predeceased by her siblings: Roy, Jim, George, and Ruth Hornle.

She is survived by her sister Esther Kohlen in Alberta as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank everyone who visited and supported Betty through these last years with visits and phone calls since Clifford’s passing.

A Funeral Service for Betty was held on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Archerwill Centennial Centre, led by Pastor Bill Dyck. Interment followed in the Dahlton Lutheran Cemetery. Donations in Betty’s memory can be made to a charity of your choice or to the Dahlton Lutheran Cemetery (Cheques payable to RM of Barrier Valley, memo include: Dahlton Lutheran Cemetery, Box 217, Archerwill, SK, S0E OB0).