Marilyn Nissen

Marilyn F. Nissen, 96, Moorhead, MN, died Friday, November 22, 2024, at her residence under care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. 

Marilyn Floye Aamodt was born May 23, 1928, in Cottonwood, MN, to George and Mabel (Roti) Aamodt. Marilyn attended country school near her childhood home until the 8th grade, then went on to “town school”, as she called it, graduating from Cottonwood High School in 1946. 

Marilyn attended Concordia College from 1946-1950. While in college, she met the love of her life, Rev. Elwyn J. Nissen. Marilyn and Elwyn were united in marriage on August 5, 1950. During her years at Concordia, Marilyn was one of few Freshman chosen to sing with the Concordia Concert Choir, under the direction of Paul J. Christiansen. One of the main highlights during her time with the Concordia choir was travelling by ship to Norway in 1949. Marilyn finished her schooling, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biology in 1950. 

As a married couple, they lived in various communities with Elwyn’s ministerial career. Marilyn chose to stay home and raise their children. She taught piano lessons over the years and was always in attendance for her children’s sports, music and drama events. Marilyn was a strong supporter of her family’s involvement in Boy Scouts. She allowed Elwyn to “happily” miss their 25th wedding anniversary so he and their son, Dan, could attend Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in New Mexico. The family later spent the summers of 1979 and 1980 at the ranch where Elwyn served as one of the ranch chaplains. 

Marilyn was the perfect ministry partner for her husband. She played piano, sang solos, duets, and trios. She was active with the choir, directed children’s choir, junior and senior choirs, taught vacation Bible school, hosted women’s Bible studies in their home, attended Ladies Aid meetings, was part of church quilting groups and often joined Elwyn during nursing home visits and visitations in the communities they served. While serving the Lutheran Church in Leeds, ND, Marilyn and Elwyn were gifted a trip to the Holy Land. 

Marilyn loved the outdoors, from camping with her family, to tending to her flower gardens. She loved sitting in her rocking chair during the summers, watching her gardens bloom. She also enjoyed hand stitching, sewing, and making quilts for all of her children and grandchildren, donating many quilts to missions over the years. 

On her 80th birthday, Marilyn took a ride on a Harley – Davidson, and she loved it! 

Marilyn was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be deeply missed by her family. She is survived by daughter, Deborah Johansen of Gilbert, AZ; sons, Dave (Stacy) Nissen of Bloomington, MN, and Dan Nissen of Kronenwetter, WI; grandchildren, Leah (Boaz) Witbeck of Mesa, AZ, Aaron Johansen of Gainesville, TX, Alicia (Valentino Gonzalez) Johansen of Baltimore, MD, Andrew Johansen of Phoenix, AZ, Jamie (Kevin) Maas of Bloomington, MN, Ashley (Tyler) Jones of Bloomington, MN, and Joseph (Blythe) Nissen; great-grandchildren, Zayden Johansen, Elowyn Witbeck, Maddox Maas, Kenzie Maas, Laykin Jones and Alistar Nissen. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Rev. Elwyn Nissen (2004); her sister, Audrey (Bud) Hostetler, and several other beloved family members not listed here.

Funeral services for Marilyn will be Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 1pm in the Lutheran Church of Christ the King, Moorhead. Visitation will be one hour prior. Interment will be next to her husband, Elwyn, in the Kindred Cemetery in Kindred.