Nancy Maria Billings, 95, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 27th, at the Altru Hospital, in Grand Forks. Nancy was born November 5th, 1926, to Domenic and Amy (Cryderman) Stellon; on the Stellon Farm, one mile North of Bowesmont, North Dakota. She was named after her two Grandmothers: Nancy McKeever and Maria Braun. Nancy attended the Assembly of God and Methodist Church. She continued with Bible study in Drayton, ND, and was a true believer of God and the Bible. Nancy grew up in the Bowesmont community and attended High School there, graduating in 1944. Nancy received her Bachelor’s degree in Teaching from Mayville State College, and later attended NDSU. Nancy was united in marriage to Harold Billings on November 25th, 1947. He passed away in June of 1987.
She taught school for 40 years. Her first 13 years of teaching were in country schools of Pembina County, Mugford, Fleece, Carlisle, and Prattford. She taught the following 7 years in St. Thomas Public School, and spent the last 20 years of her teaching career at Horace Mann School in Fargo, ND. Nancy moved from Fargo to Grand Forks, ND in 1985.
She moved to Drayton, ND, in May 1996, where she spent her last years close to her nephew Mike Stellon, his wife Judy, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Nancy was great with sewing and did beautiful needlework. She kept her mind sharp with Sudoku and puzzles, and looked forward to her visits with Irene Stellon, her friend of 70 years.
Nancy spent as much time as possible with her nieces and nephews and helped to care for many of their children and grandchildren. She went to their extracurricular events, and it brought her happiness to cheer them on in their activities. She was a proud aunt!
Nancy was frequently in Brenda Landowski’s home, and with Brenda’s children and grandchildren. She adored them and cared for them like her own. Nancy truly loved her family. She was honest with her opinions, and lived a full, productive, and active life. She will be deeply missed.
Nancy is survived by two sisters: Frances Stellon (Jim) McConnell, Grand Forks, ND, and Ida Ruth Stellon (Bill) McConnell, Minnetonka, MN, and cousin Bob (Carlene) Falos.
She has five Godchildren, whom she dearly loved. They are Carolyn and Bryan Billings, Beth Schlagel Wuest, Joy McConnell, and Mike Stellon.
Three generations of nieces and nephews were a great part of her life: Fourteen nieces and Nephews: Carolyn Billings, Bryan Billings, Beth Schlagel (Harvey “Buddy”) Wuest, Amy Lyle (Dave) Koch, Joy McConnell (Brian) Campbell, Mike (Judy) Stellon, William McConnell, Joane Lyle (John) Anderson, Brenda Stellon Landowski, Susan Lyle Zachman, Jill McConnell (Jon) Fisher, LaVonne McConnell (Doug) Becker, Jolene McConnell (Bob) Forsberg, Tom McConnell. Twenty-four great nieces and nephews: Tom and Jeff Koch, Michael Campbell, Daniel (Jessica) Mapel, (Ross, in memorium) and Crystal Mapel, Katherine Anderson, Brooks (Tarri) Stellon, Clayton, Joseph, Sarah, Emily, Jeffrey, and Marcus Landowski, Anna and Leo Zachman, Nicholas and Cally McConnell, Anton and Claire Becker, Shauna Wiest, Greg (Lisa) Jonas, Johnathan Forsberg, Nora and Reese McConnell.
Nineteen Great-Great nieces and nephews: Ella and Jase Landowski, Kale and Remi Franklin, Nova Lafferty, Jada Landowski, Blake Anderson, Landon Mapel, Christian and Alexis Larson, Domenic and Amelia Stellon, Austin and Taylor Hermanson, Henry and Jackson Wiest, Raylee, Elizabeth and Margaret Jonas Proceeding Nancy in death were her Grandparents, Abraham and Nancy (McKeever) Cryderman, Marco and Maria (Braun) Stellon, her parents; Domenic and Amy (Cryderman) Stellon, an infant brother, Harold Billings, Aunt Ethel (Cryderman) Falos, brother Leo Stellon and sister Ethel Joyce Stellon Schlagel, and nephew, Ross Mapel.
The Funeral service was on Monday, October 3rd at the Methodist Church in Drayton, ND.
Interment in Bowesmont Cemetery. Rev. Gary Johnson and Rev. Shirley Christenson; Emily Landowski, reader; Shirley VanCamp, soloist and Karen Schumacher, pianist; “Amazing Grace”. Congregational hymns, “Up From The Grave He Rose” and “Blessed Assurance”.
Casket bearers, Brooks Stellon, Daniel Mapel, Jeffrey Landowski, Marcus Landowski, Joseph Landowski, Clayton Landowski, Landon Mapel, Nick McConnell, Patrick Bair Tom McConnell, Michael Campbell, Tom Koch, Jeff Koch, Leo Zachman, Anton Becker, Greg Jonas and Johnathan Forsberg. Honorary casket bearers, Domenic Stellon, Amelia Stellon Ella Landowski, Kale Franklin, Remi Franklin, Nova Lafferty, Jada Landowski, Blake Anderson Jase Landowski, Christian Larson, Alexis Larson, Austin Hermanson and Taylor Hermanson.