Margaret Elaine (Monsen) Nyquist

TRACY–Funeral service for Margaret Elaine (Monsen) Nyquist will take place on Monday, June 16, 2025 at Tracy Lutheran Church beginning at 11:00 a.m. Public visitation will take place Sunday, June 15, 2025 at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Tracy from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 5:30 p.m. Visitation will continue Monday morning at church one hour prior to the funeral service. Upon conclusion of the service a luncheon will be provided. Burial will take place at a later date.

Margaret Elaine (Monsen) Nyquist was born on July 8, 1930, to Clarence and Dorothy (Schnoor) Monsen near Tracy, MN. She grew up on a farm north of Tracy and attended grade school in Amiret, then graduated from Tracy High School in the spring of 1948. After graduation, Elaine worked for a clothing store in Tracy.

Elaine married Otto Nyquist on October 2, 1949, at the Lutheran church in Tracy. They lived in Tracy until Otto was called into active duty and stationed in Alabama. After Otto was discharged, they moved back to the Tracy area and bought a farm. Elaine helped Otto on the farm doing whatever needed to be done to help the farm prosper, including fieldwork and caring for livestock. They were blessed with three daughters. Elaine sewed many of their clothes and taught them to sew.

Throughout her lifetime she touched many people, whether it be through her Tupperware business, her fabric store business, helping with 4H or a friend’s sewing project, or visiting with them around town. Elaine was a skilled seamstress and loved quilting. In 1985, she purchased a fabric store in Tracy, which she named Fabrics Plus. After a few years, she relocated the store to Marshall, owning and operating it until retirement in her 80’s. While operating Fabrics Plus, she designed and published a quilt pattern that could be made in a day.

In addition to her passion for sewing and quilting, Elained loved to follow the Minnesota Twins and Vikings; learning about all sorts of topics, using her iPad to do research; telling jokes; and visiting with family and friends, whether it be traveling to see them or welcoming them where she lived. Family and friends visits were always a highlight.

Elaine died on June 9, 2025, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD, after a brief illness.

She is survived by her daughters Judy (Dennis) Hayes, Laura (Max Heintz) Nyquist, Kathy Nyquist; grandchildren Jennifer (Jeff) Quinn, Derek Hayes, Sarah (Shawn) McGill, Andrew (Erin) Heintz, Mackenzie (Quinn) Craugh, Jordan (Linsey) Douglas; great-grandchildren Logan Quinn, Joshua Quinn, Alyssa Quinn, Lauren Hayes, Lucas Heintz, Margot Heintz; siblings Arlene Schoephoerster, Donald (Addy) Monsen, Eleanora Monsen, Melvin (Susan) Monsen, Kenneth (Shirlie) Monsen; many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Elaine is preceded in death by her husband Otto; parents Clarence and Dorothy; paternal and maternal grandparents.

Elaine’s family would like to offer a thank you to all of the caregivers that have helped Elaine over the past years.

Arrangements with Horvath Funeral Service Tracy, Minnesota www.horvathfuneralservice.com