Sylvia M. Nesheim

Northview - North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, MN 56003
(507) 388-2288

Sylvia Martha Nesheim, age 92, of Mankato, died Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, September 28, 2018 at Messiah Lutheran Church,North Mankato at 11 a.m. with a viewing one hour prior to the service.  Visitation will be on Thursday, September 28, 2018 from 4-7 p.m. at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato.Interment will take place at a later date at Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery.

Sylvia was born on September 25, 1925 in New Ulm, MN to Otto and Martha (Borkenhagen) Wels.  The third of three daughters, she grew up on a farm outside of Nicollet, MN.  She graduated from Nicollet High School and soon after enrolled at Mankato State Teachers College.  She graduated two years later with a Teacher’s degree.  She started teaching in Frost, MN where she met and married Glen Nesheim.  They went on to have 5 children.  For three decades Glen’s career in the grocery business took their family to live in Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and they finally returned to their home state of Minnesota.  No matter the community, Sylvia was always involved in her church, local charities, Boy Scouts, and Camp Fire Girls.  She returned to Mankato State to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.  Simultaneously, she embarked on a long and rewarding career at the Minnesota Security State Hospital in St. Peter, MN.  She retired in 1994.

Through the family’s travels, Sylvia developed a keen interest and respect for the history and culture of the native people.   This interest became a commitment that was a very meaningful part of her life until the very end.  She made many trips to the Pine Ridge Reservation with friends from Messiah Lutheran Church with donations for people of all ages.  She made many lasting friendships at Pine Ridge.  She also enjoyed gardening, traveling, volunteering and most importantly, collecting items as donations.  Collecting and donating were touchstones to Sylvia’s character, her greatest gift to the world.  Her unfailing love for humanity inspired her to empower those less fortunate than herself.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, Glen, sisters, Laurice Tappan and Elizabeth Erickson, granddaughter, Rachel Salomonson, son, David Nesheim and daughter, Susan Nesheim Allbee.

Sylvia is survived by her son, Steven Nesheim (Debra) of St. Paul, MN, daughter, Toni Nesheim (Denny Salomonson) of Grayslake, IL, and son, John Nesheim (Marie) of Woodbury, MN; grandchildren, Katia Allbee, Eamon Allbee, Emily Nesheim Bullock, Rhys Salomonson, Benjamin Nesheim, Shawn Mead, Sarah Nesheim, Hannah Nesheim, Eve Nesheim; great-grandchildren, Sean Lord, Ian Lord, Hunter Salomonson, Brayden Salomonson, Landon Salomonson, Isabella Allbee, Eli Allbee, and Ethan Bullock.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Rachel Salomonson Scholarship, checks made out to MSU Foundation (write Rachel Salomonson Art Scholarship on the note line), MN State University-Mankato 126 Alumni Foundation Center Mankato MN 56001; or SueAnn Big Crow Youth Development Center, P.O. Box 5079  Pine Ridge, SD 50777.