Marguerite Gladys (Pidcock) Nelson
Marriages
Carl Nelson - October 2, 1938
Burial Details
Obituaries
Steamboat Pilot - February 6, 2011
Marguerite Gladys Nelson
November 29, 1912 - January 22, 2011
Marguerite Nelson passed away Jan. 22, 2011, at the Doak Walker Care Center in Steamboat Springs. Marguerite was the firstborn of Maurice and Louise Pidcock. She was born about 15 miles from Kremmling on Nov. 29, 1912.
Marguerite and her siblings Evelyn, Bill and John were raised in a cabin near Red Dirt Creek. When Marguerite was 8 1/2 years old, the Pidcock family moved to Yampa. They traveled over Gore Pass, and it took two days to get from Red Dirt to Yampa in a wagon.
Marguerite and Evelyn started school in first grade together and attended school in Yampa. After graduation, they moved to a 160-acre ranch on Greenridge. The Pidcocks lived there for 14 years. Marguerite left the Pidcock place for the Brown place when she married a neighbor, Carl Nelson, on Oct. 2, 1938. Carl and Marguerite raised a garden, potatoes and hay and fed cattle. They also had two children, June and David. Marguerite and Carl then moved to the larger John Nelson ranch.
June and David would walk or ride horses to go to school in Phippsburg. Sadie and Mary were born on the Nelson place. On Sundays, Carl would drive Marguerite and family to church in Yampa. The Nelsons were active in the Nazarene Church.
In 1951, Carl sold his Greenridge ranch and bought 27 acres of pastureland and a house in Yampa. He moved two milk cows, two horses and several yearlings to the pasture and his family to a house that had electricity and running water. Marguerite raised rabbits, chickens and a garden in town. The Nelson children attended school in Yampa.
After the children were grown, Carl and Marguerite built a log house on their land across the railroad tracks from Yampa. They moved in in 1966, and this has been Marguerite’s home since. The grandchildren were welcome visitors. Marguerite would make up a batch of caramel popcorn and play board games with them.
Around 1976, Marguerite wrote “The Maurice Pidcock Family History.” It is filled with anecdotes about the life and times of her grandparents, Fritz and Anna Ritshard, and her parents.
After Carl retired, he bought a little camper, and he and Marguerite would take off for warmer climates during January and February.
Marguerite was widowed when Carl passed away Aug. 13, 1988. She kept busy with household chores. She went for two- or three-mile walks daily and would often team up with her sister, Evelyn, for hikes on Greenridge or on roads leading to the Flat Tops.
Marguerite started showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Her daughter June moved from Portland to live with her. Her mental decline was gradual throughout 13 years. She always sang while working. She continued to enjoy old tunes and gospel music. She continued walking with a walker after several fractures. She had been in a wheelchair for more than a year. She was placed in the Doak after transferring her became too difficult for June.
Marguerite Nelson was preceded in death by her parents; her two brothers, Bill and John Pidcock; her granddaughter Connie Borroel; her husband, Carl Nelson; and her daughter, Sadie Borroel.
Marguerite is survived by her sister, Evelyn Pidcock; her son, David Nelson; her daughters June Nelson and Mary (Nelson) Lovato. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Janet (Nelson) Rossi, Charlene (Nelson) Regan and Leslie Borroel; and three great-grandchildren Matthew Regan, Carl Rossi and Mattie Rossi.
Services for Marguerite Nelson were Jan. 26 at Yampa Bible Church. A reception followed. Interment was at Yampa Cemetery.
