Nancy Louise Vance, 73, Luverne, died Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
A memorial gathering to celebrate Nancy’s life will be at a later date.
Nancy Connell was born on July 11, 1947, to Leo and Delores (Ormseth) Connell in Luverne. She attended Luverne Public School, graduating with the class of 1965.
On Jan. 8, 1966, Nancy married Michael Vance at Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne. Mike entered the service in late March 1966 and was stationed in South Carolina. Nancy stayed with her parents during that time and worked as a clerk at Nelson Department Store. When Mike returned from the service, they made their home in Luverne. The couple was blessed with two daughters, and Nancy transitioned to being a full-time mother. As their daughters grew older, Nancy returned to working various jobs. During the 1980s health concerns forced her into retirement.
Nancy had a great sense of humor, loved practical jokes, and delighted in heckling her brothers over the years. She was talented in the kitchen, baking and cooking up good things for her family. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, card games, Sudoku, craft projects and was an avid reader.
Nancy is survived by her husband, Michael, of Luverne; daughters Shelly Vance of Hardwick and Vickie (Greg) Fikse of Minneapolis; honorary daughter, Linda Dickman of Hardwick; siblings Tom Connell of Freemont, Nebraska, Richard Connell of Champlin, Dennis Connell of Phoenix, Arizona, Mark (Mary) Connell of Maple Grove and Patricia (Donald) Bents of Worthington; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Jerry Connell and John Connell; sisters-in-law Karen Connell and LaDonna Connell; mother-in-law Marian Vance; and honorary daughter Paula Dickman.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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