Ottalie Ethel Nelson

The flatbread, cinnamon buns, macaroons are all gone and the cookie jar is empty.  The last pair of blue jeans have been mended, the last cow has been chased from the garden and all the weeds have been pulled.

Our hearts are full from a lifetime of love, nourishment and wisdom.

Ottalie was a very kind and generous woman.

Ottalie Ethel was born on the family farm northeast of Stavely, Alberta on February 3, 1926 to Otto and Ethel Malchow and was the oldest of 3 children. Life was not easy during the early years when a horse and buggy or walking was the main mode of transportation. Ottalie was sent to the Parkland School as it had bus service and Stavely required walking, horse and buggy or starting a vehicle to get to a destination.

In 1944 Ottalie enrolled in the Holy Cross School of Nursing in Calgary and graduated in 1947 as a Registered Nurse.

As an RN she chose to work in the Tranquille Tuberculosis Sanatorium near Kamloops, B.C. for approximately one year, then on to the King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Duncan B.C. for a short spell before her last posting at Claresholm General Hospital in 1949.      All this time she continued to receive letters (some fairly enlightened with the intention of courtship) from a local farm boy named Eddie.  When she was home one day, Eddie came and asked her to marry him.   She accepted and a legacy began.

Ottalie and Edwin Nelson were married on November 3rd, 1949.

The first four years of their marriage was spent on a rented mixed farm west of Parkland just along the foothills and two children were born while there; Brenda in 1950 and Brian in 1952. 

In 1953 Ed and Ottalie purchased their ranch home place in Beaver Valley west of Stavely where their youngest son, Tim, now resides.  Four more children were added to the family - Peggy in 1956, Maryann in 1958, Randy in 1960 and Timothy in 1962. 

In the early years Ottalie was the mother, nurse, secretary and the hired help as Ed kept her busy raising chickens, pigs, sheep, cattle, cats, dogs, gophers, frogs, butterflies while maintaining a garden, as well as driving kids to and from activities they were involved in . She made sure all the kids received swimming lessons.

She was instrumental in making sure kids got to Sunday School, Christmas concerts, Cubs, CGIT, Explorers and any sports events they were in. She was a huge support in getting the kids to their activities as well as making sure they used the great outdoors as their playground.  She would make little lunches when the younger kids were going on a hike for the day.  She loved to pick wildflowers while walking the hills around their home and she loved the wild life and especially the birds found in the hills.   She was always a willing tutor when it came to homework. She was a putterer whether it was in the garden or at her sewing machine.  Somehow she always found time to finish a job when required such as making a dress or shirt for one of her kids.

Ottalie had a strong faith from a very young age, was a life time member of the Stavely United Church and very active member of the United Church Women.   She was on the Claresholm / Stavely United Church Board for years and served as the Superintendent of the Stavely Sunday School.   She loved to host the annual spring meeting of the UCW at the ranch so all the women could get out for a walk on the hills and enjoy her big back yard!  

When Ed started the Waldron Grazing Ranching Co-operative in 1962, Ottalie was the secretary for lots of the meetings including the handling of paperwork for days afterward.

The Nelson family are great supporters on the biennial Malchow family reunion that has been ongoing for many years. 

 Ottalie passed away at the Claresholm General Hospital on January 8, 2019.

 Ottalie is survived by her children Brenda (Ron Fleming), Brian (Deb), Peggy (Steve) Johnson, Maryann (Blane) Meek, Randy (Julie), Tim (Chris); her grandchildren Silas Fleming, Rena (Brandon) Ponath, Stacia (Mike) Humphrey, Curtis (Angie) Nelson, Jackie (Jake) Gour, Trina Burgess, Robert Johnson, Colin (Leslee) Meek, Lauramy (Matt) Hopley, Dayna (Clint Crawford) Nelson, Keira Nelson, Scott Nelson, Danielle (Matt Rothery), Sarah, & Tianna Nelson; her great grandchildren Jada, Taya, Logan Fleming; Taylor, Riley, Lydia Ponath; Raya, Reese Humphrey, Deklin, Daxtyn Nelson; Mariah, Liam, Karis, Josiah Gour; Ayla, Beth, Cameron, Danica Burgess; Natalie, Alexander Hopley; Chevy Crawford.

She is also survived by her sister Helen (Harvey) Shevalier; her sister-in-law Helen Malchow and her brother-in-law, Roy (Josephine) Nelson and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ottalie was predeceased by her husband Edwin Carl Nelson, her brother Tedford Malchow and her parents Otto and Ethel Malchow.

 A Celebration of Life For Ottalie will be held at the Stavely Community Centre on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 2 PM.