Nancy Lou (Sorensen) Ewing passed away peacefully on Wednesday April 16, 2014 in her own home surrounded by loved ones, when the Angel’s celebrated her arrival into heaven, as God carried his child to her forever home at the age of 73.
She was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to Louis Earl and Minnie Pauline (Zinn) Sorensen on August 10, 1940. Nancy married the love of her life, Jerry Leon Ewing, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska by Reverend E.M. Kirschenmann, on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1959. Reverend Kirschenmann said, “When I tie the knot, it stays tied.” She and Dad were proud of their fifty plus years together.
Nancy was faithfully married to Jerry, raising their three daughters, and enjoyed many accomplishments throughout her life. Her foster parenting for Lutheran Family Services was a proud time for her. She always taught us with God first all else will fall into place and keeping her faith always was seen through her in everything she did in life.
Mom and Dad moved to Helena, Montana in May of 1971, to be by her family and run the Big Sky Motel for her brother, Erv Sorensen. Mom was always active in her church community. She was the first female PTA president in Omaha, Nebraska. She was also a member of the Eagles, Last Chance Parade Committee, Helena Trail Riders, and so many others to mention. One of her other proudest positions she enjoyed, was her House Mother position at Mountain View Girls Reform School.
Mom loved her family deeply and those she met, leaving a lasting impression. She was definitely an angel here on earth.
Mom loved to sew and was a very crafty person. People would ask where she bought her clothes in her earliest years and she continued to sew many items of clothing for her family members. She enjoyed painting and crafting with her beautiful hands and played her piano (among other instruments) so beautifully for as long as she could. Her crest scleroderma and recent diagnosis that she was filled with cancer gave Mom little hope. Mom gave a valiant fight to stay independent for as long as possible, until her diseased body overtook her earthly, frail body.
Jesus reached out to carry her weak and crippled body from our care into His and she now joins Dad, whom she missed so deeply, her parents and her only brother, and many other relatives and friends who have gone before her. She found the peace that passes all understanding and is now free of pain and freed from earthly diseases. She was always a great role model and teacher. Even to the very end she taught all of us that faith in God will always see you through. She never lost her trust in our God the Heavenly Father, even with her last breathe.
Nancy is survived by her loving daughters, Kim Ewing of Helena, Robin (Tony) Pistelak of Santee, California, and Angela (Craig) Hyyppa of Helena. Her loving grandchildren, Ryan and Adam Williams, Amy (Trevor) Peterson, Anna, Markell, and Faith Ebert, Nicholaus (Sarah) Ewing-Pistelak, and Travis, Tanner, Aleksa, and Kolton Hyyppa. Her great-grandchildren, Ryann and Rylee Williams, Bently and Brodie Williams, Macayla and Maddox Peterson, and Katelynn and Juliette Ewing-Pistelak. She is also survived by many special nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, many cousins, and dear friends.
Other survivors include her cousin Sally (Reverend Paul) Sparling with whom she grew up with as a sister throughout their lives, Sister-in-law, Marge (Erv) Sorensen, both of whom she loved deeply. Mom had many wonderful friends she considered family she also leaves behind, including Karen Graham-Goedker and Nancy Dodd, whom she loved to talk the night away, and very special friends Earl and Verna Leitzke and their family, who also relocated to Helena with them, as well as many other loved ones here on earth.
She is preceded in death by her husband Jerry L. Ewing, the love of her life. As well as her parents, Louis and Minnie Sorensen and only brother, Erv Sorensen, great niece, Misty Dawn Little and great nephew, Chad Louis Sorensen, plus numerous family members and friends.
A Funeral celebration of Mom’s life will be held Wednesday, April. 23, 2014, 1 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, Helena, Montana. A reception to celebrate Mom’s life and share memories will be in the Fellowship Hall of First Lutheran Church, following her funeral service. Jerry and Nancy’s final committal service will be scheduled at later date at Fort Harrison V.A. Cemetery, with full military honors. Mom said, “We were married together, we’ll be buried together.” And “Remember, with God, nothing is impossible.”
Memorials in Nancy’s name may be made to the Scleroderma Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, First Lutheran Church, or to your favorite charity, in her honor.
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Angel says
Momma, how I will miss you. Selfishly I would have liked to keep you forever but, you are the lucky, blessed one with no more pain and missing Dad so much. I know you have taught me a foundation on faith in Christ gives us strength during adversity. Thank you because without Him, we just become a weak shell. I will always have another Angel helping and guiding me along this path we call life. I love you forever. To the moon and back and all the stars in the sky.
Jim & Donna Colley says
Kim and family, We are so sorry to here of you moms passing and pray that God will hold you all extra close and give you all the peace and comfort only he can give. Jim and I will cherish and hold close to our hearts all our memories of being there neighbor and good friends. They will be missed and never forgotten. God Bless!
Debbie Ewing Parks says
My thoughts and prayers are with you Kim, Robin and Angel. I have so many memories of your Mom and Dad. We spent lots of time together as kids. I was always so jealous that Aunt Nancy could sew and you got to take dance lessons. My Mom, Mariann, could not sew and so we could not take dance lessons as we would not have costumes to wear for recitals! Aunt Nancy was so fun. Susie and I had a great time when we came out one summer and spent some time with you at the hotel. I miss both Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jerry, but I know that one day I will see the entire Ewing family again. God be with you at this difficult time.
Dale and Judy Gardner says
Kim, Robin and Angela. We are so sorry for your loss. We have not been close friends with your and your mom and dad for many years but we had some wonderful visits and fun times with all of you years ago. We wish you a lot of good memories of your mom and I’m sure you will remember more as time goes on. Cherish those memories.
Beth, Chad and Tyler Rosencrans says
We are very sorry to hear of your loss, we send our deepest condolences! She will be dearly missed!
Nick, Sarah, Katelynn and Juilette Ewing-Pistelak says
Grandma (and Grandpa) always had a positive spirit and a genuine love for family. I can remember many summers with them at their various homes from the infamous mountain house to their home in the valley. With Grandma and Grandpa there was always something to do or a life skill to learn. Attending a rodeo, stampede, fair or parade. Riding in a truck looking for Elk, running errands, going to town for dinner, it didn’t matter because there was always happiness. Grandpa may have gotten Grandmas blood pumping from time to time, but they always exemplified what a married couple should be. Loving and understanding.
I am thankful for the time we shared and memories we made. Sarah and I were extremely happy that they made it to our wedding, it really meant a lot to us. During a road venture with out 1964 Terry Trailer in tow, we were able to visit Grandma and Grandpa so they could meet our oldest child. Even when work schedules or life prevented us from making the trip to Montana to visit, they were always happy to receive a phone call and sounded just as excited to hear you on the phone as they were in person.
After Grandpas passing, I had hoped that Grandma would come down to live with my Mom and Dad here in California so we could all keep her company and enjoy the sunshine together. But that was just a dream, She was insistent that she could not leave her home or animals. She loved where she lived and with the help of my everstrong mother was able to pass away peacefully in her own home, on her own terms.
If there is a heaven, (Grandpa says there is and he saw it a few times) I will find peace in knowing she can rejoin Grandpa and be in a world free of pain, conflict and intolerance. Although she lived in a house alone. I don’t think she was truly ever alone. Through her belief in God and an everlasting love for Grandpa, her heart was always full, even when the house was empty.
I will end this with a quote: “I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memores. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love.” -Leo Bascaglia
We will miss you everyday, yet celebrate that you can again hold hands with Grandpa and walk amongst Angels. Our eternal gratitude for everything you did for us and an inspiration to all to love, laugh and enjoy what life brings.
-Nick