Nellie Mitchell

Nellie Marie Mitchell, Aunt Nell, 78 of Fullerton, California and Byron Minnesota passed away at her home in Byron surrounded by her loving family May 17, 2016. Nell was born in OBrien County Iowa October 3, 1937 to Clarence E. and Winnifred (Morey) Montgomery. Nell accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized in Cherokee, Iowa. The Montgomerys moved to Astoria, South Dakota where Nell attended school and graduated as Valedictorian in 1956. Nell then attended Northwestern Bible College for one year in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She continued her education at Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Mitchell, South Dakota and the University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Nell worked at Nebraska Medical Center for four years as a pediatric nurse. She moved to Garden Grove, California in 1964 and worked for the University of California Medical Center Irvine. Nell worked as a floor nurse, Associate Director of Pediatrics, Associate Director of Surgical Services, and Associate Director of Nursing.After devoting 30 years to nursing, she ended her career as Acting Director of Nursing at the University of California Medical Center Irvine. Nell married the love of her life John D. Mitchell, Uncle Jack September 10,1966 at the Friends Church in Garden Grove, California. After having worked with his father in the radio, television and appliance business Jack saw the opportunity to get into the emerging markets of repeating towers for radio communication and purchased FCC licenses in Southern California and later Denver, Colorado. Nell did the billing and books for the new venture and together Jack and Nell worked with engineers and computer programmers to develop software to measure the amount of time for each user on the repeating towers. This lead Nell into the software support part of their business where she helped customers from around the world. Nell did this while still working full time in the nursing field.Jack and Nell were an innovative and cohesive team in their endeavors.Unfortunately, Jack and Nell were separated by Jacks sudden death on November 11th, 2005. Having had such a busy life, Nell wanted to keep active and decided to join in partnership with her nephew Jerry and his wife Ruth Fischer for a new venture in Rochester, Minnesota in 2006. In the summer 2008 they opened Leashes and Leads, a pet resort and country store. In 2014, they built Montgomery Manor, next to Leashes and Leads, a family estate that is home to four generations. Nell is also the principal owner of Montgomery Meadows Equestrian Community a new housing development that will be opening soon for building homes with walking paths, and riding trails with a central indoor arena and stable. Nell has had many hobbies in her life, including reading, traveling the world, and quilt making. Many of these hobbies were surrounded by her many friends from Cornerstone Methodist Church in Placentia, California. Nell was involved in many church and business activities and will be greatly missed by her family, friends and business associates. Nell is preceded in death by her husband, Jack Mitchell, her parents Clarence Montgomery and Winnifred Montgomery, her sister Carol Livingston, sister-in-law Linda Montgomery and brother-in-law Paul Fischer. She is survived by her sisters Margaret Ann Fischer, Byron, Minnesota; Shirley (Don) Bastady, Porterville, California; Brothers Harvey (Anna Marie) Montgomery, Elkton, South Dakota; George (Jolene) Montgomery, Brookings South Dakota and her many adoring nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Rochester Childrens Museum, Kingdom Kids at Christ Community Church in Rochester, Minnesota Paws and Claws Rochester, Minnesota.