Elsie F. Parsons, age 85, of Leith, ND, passed away on Tuesday morning, August 20, 2013 at her home in Leith.

Funeral services will be on Monday, August 26, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. MT at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Carson, ND. Rev. Samuel Beibert will officiate. Following a time of fellowship at the church, burial will be Monday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. CT at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, south of Mandan, ND. Visitations will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 25, at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin and one hour prior to the service on Monday morning at the Church in Carson.

Elsie was born August 1, 1928, at Paradise, ND, to Henry and Katherine (Fuchs) Neher, the second of six children. She attended school at Leith, ND.

After her family moved to Mott, Elsie worked at the hotel as a waitress. Also while living at Mott, she met the love of her life, Bruce Parsons. They eloped on April 2, 1948, and were married for 60 years before Bruce passed away in 2008.

Bruce and Elsie moved their fair share, as she said, living in Minot, Hettinger, Killdeer, Mott, Manhattan, KS (during the Cuban Missile crisis), returning to Mott, and retiring to Leith in 1989. Elsie was mother to six children and unofficial foster mother to three children.

After moving to Leith, Elsie wrote the Leith News for the Grant County paper for many years. She enjoyed visiting with everyone as she gathered the news, having many followers in the area, as well as around the country.

There were many areas Elsie was talented in, including painting, crocheting, making her special baked rice, and being there with quiet reassurances and loving hands.

Elsie was a quiet woman, but when something tickled her she had a great laugh. Her wisdom, political savvy and loving heart is sorely missed.

Elsie is survived by six children: Steve (Pat) Parsons, Grand Junction, CO; Sherrill (Bobby) Harper, Leith, ND; Sheila Jones, Dowagiac, MI; Bruce (fiance Lynn Goodrich), Mott, ND; Stacy (Randy) Wintjen, Conway, AR; and Shane (Jamie Lynn) Parsons, Bottineau, ND; brother Fred (Rosella) Neher, Elgin, ND and sister-in-law Avis Lamon, Wichita, KS. She also leaves behind her grandchildren Bill (Joanne) Freitag, Scott Hill, Tobias Harper, C.J. Hill, Anthony Hesper, Katie (Adam) Hess, Joshua (Monica) Jones, Andy Jones, Jordan Wintjen, Julie Wintjen, Jared Wintjen, Suzanne Wintjen, Dylan Parsons and grandbaby girl Parsons due September 3rd, Elijah, London, CaVanna and Easton Andel; and great-grandchildren Jason and Kyren Hill, Elena Freitag, Hailey, Allison and Adrienne Hess, and Adrina Wintjen.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bruce; parents Henry and Katherine Neher; parents-in-law Thomas and Mamie Parsons; brother John Neher, sisters Emma Neher (in infancy), Adeline Heupel and Dorothy Ketterling; and granddaughter Rebecca Lynn Jones.