Elizabeth Spur

Elizabeth Spur, 80, Fargo, ND, died Wednesday, July 27, 2016, from kidney failure in Sanford Palliative Care Unit.

Elizabeth was born August 31, 1935, in the rural mountains of West Virginia. She lost her parents at the age of five and was adopted by relatives who lovingly raised her and supported her in her many and varied school activities, including Honor Society, Drama, Speech Founder Charter of the Thespian Gavel and Mark Society, and head majorette.

She was an Ohio Medical College graduate and Maumee Valley Hospital RN in Toledo, OH. She served as National Program Chair for the National League of Student Nurses. After graduating from nursing school, she worked as an RN in Cleveland, OH, at St. Alexis Hospital and Parma Community Hospital.

She married Dr. John Spur on October 27, 1956, in Cleveland, OH. During their fifty-two year marriage, she supported his education and career and faithfully tended to him in his later years before his death in 2008. Together, they raised four children and had one grandson. She supported her children's activities in Girl Scouts, Brownies, hockey, Indian Scouts, art and piano lessons.

For most of her life, Elizabeth suffered from debilitating disease processes including Crohns disease. During her well periods, she enjoyed travel, community involvement, and the outdoors.

Her most treasured travel experience was a spiritual pilgrimage to Israel. Her most joyous adventure occurred in Florida while working with the US Coast Guard in saving the Right whale, the largest creature on earth. Elizabeth sighted a previously undetected Right whale. Her monitoring efforts and findings led to the US Coast Guard closing a shipping lane so the mother whale could successfully give birth without injury due to passing ships.

Her community involvement included adopting immigrant families and working with Head Start programs.

She enjoyed the outdoors, especially gardening to provide fresh vegetables and berries to family and friends and planting brightly colored flowers to provide substance to butterflies and bees.

In her final days, she enjoyed visiting with friends on her front porch, admiring apple trees lovingly pruned by her late husband, watching bunnies and birds feeding in the grass, feeling the breeze on her face, and watching trees wave and leaves flutter in the wind.

In her final hours she repeatedly said, "I'm happy."

Elizabeth and her family greatly appreciate the kindness and caring of those who prayed with her, for her, and over her. Special thank you to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and Sanford Palliative Care.

A memorial service will be Thursday, August 11, 2016, at 2 PM, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 120 - 21st Avenue North, Fargo. The service will be presided by Father Jamie Parsley. Reception at St. Stephen's will follow the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, Elizabeth and the family would ask that you consider a donation to the charity of your choice.