Nina Marie West was born on June 9, 1941 in Tracy, Minnesota, to Anton (Tony) and Sylvia (Babe) Peterson. Nina was raised in Garvin, Minnesota, where she attended Garvin Elementary School and graduated from Tracy High School in 1959. Nina worked several jobs throughout her life doing bookkeeping and accounting, as well as other miscellaneous jobs. She married Douglas West on March 12th, 1962. They resided in Garvin for most of their married life, then moving to the Alexandria area, while continuing to work for Henry’s Candy Company.
Nina loved supporting her children, family, and friends, always putting others’ needs before her own. She was a very determined lady, and overcame many medical hardships throughout her life. Nina enjoyed spending time with family and friends, gardening, bowling, canning, baking and bird watching. She was an active member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary in Alexandria for several years. Following Douglas’ passing in 2012, Nina would frequently spend the winter seasons with her daughter and grandson in San Antonio, Texas, returning for the summers in Minnesota. Ultimately residing full time deep in the heart of Texas.
On Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, Nina passed away from natural causes at the age of 83 to finally rest in peace. She was preceded in death by her parents, Tony and Babe, five elder brothers; Louis, Raymond, Robert, Ivan, Lyle, and just recently, one elder sister, Eleanor. Nina is survived by two younger brothers, Arthur and Carl, and one sister, Eva, as well as her three children, Sheryl Gleason of San Antonio, TX, James (Caroline) West of Saginaw, MI, and Paul West (Jody and Faith Bender) of Nelson, MN, seven grandchildren, Aaron Gleason; Benjamin, Samuel, Juliana, and Jack West; Samantha and Cole Tracy. She is further survived by three sisters-in-law, Helen Peterson, Jean Krueger and Karen Pamp, also brother-inlaw Troy Stidham, as well as many other family members and friends.
A funeral memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 10:30am at the Congregational Church in Garvin, followed by interment of both Nina and Doug’s remains at the Bethel Cemetery. A luncheon to celebrate Nina’s life and share memories to follow at Bitton’s Roadhouse in Garvin.
