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This energetic, petite, enthusiastic, person, Greta Nelson, was born in Belfield, North Dakota,
the sixth of seven children, named after her aunt in Sweden. Bubbling with personality, vitality,
and sincerity, her life has been full of adventures, opportunities, experiences and risk taking.
Growing up in a musical family, their entertainment was singing, playing musical instruments, and dancing the wax off the kitchen floor. Here is a "bird's eye view" of the wonderful life Greta has lived.
After graduating from Dickinson State College with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Education
and a Minor in Art, Greta began her teaching career. Her experiences started with teaching the
first grade for twenty-one years in Beach, ND. She married and had one son, Dennis, who
blessed her with two wonderful grandchildren. During these years, one of her many enjoyments
was singing with the Silhouettes in Sound, a musical performing group, singing for benefits, fund-
raisers, and social events.
Owning souvenir stores in Medora, ND, a small tourist town at the entrance of Theodore
Roosevelt National Memorial Park, was a challenging business adventure. She loved meeting the
travelers and people who enjoyed visiting the beautiful badlands of North Dakota.
Greta's next experience was as an educational consultant for Open Court Publishing Co.,
teaching, demonstrating, and training elementary teachers, working in most states in western
United States. She then moved to Monterey, CA to teach the illiterate inmates in a maximum-
security federal prison in Soledad, CA. This was an incredible, unforgettable experience, which
she considers to be a "best seller" some day. Her volunteer work in California was teaching at
the Boys and Girls Club and at the Drug and Rehabilitation Center in Seaside. Her personal
enjoyment was spent singing with E Contori de Carmel, an exclusive musical group, singing for
special occasions and holidays around the Monterey Peninsula and dancing with the Flappers to
Dixieland music.
Her next work experience was selling insurance, employee benefits to the city employees of San
Francisco, followed by a company transfer to Edina, Minnesota. While living in Minnesota, she
continued to sell insurance, along with private tutoring, and teaching preschool music. As a
volunteer for the Big Brother, Big Sister in Minneapolis, a little sister, Jasmine, kept her
entertained along with singing in a mixed choral group, the Edina Chorale. This led her to the
next wonderful musical opportunity, singing "The Messiah" in Carnegie Hall . . . .her lifetime
dream.
Today, Greta represents the single senior working-woman as she continues to work in the
educational field. She is the Dean of Students and Career Advisor for Rasmussen College in
Bismarck, ND. She is the liaison between students and teachers, helping students to succeed with
their education, reach their educational goals, and help them find jobs in their chosen field. Her
passion for music continues, singing with the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church choir along with
playing dinner music at the Seven Seas Supper Club. Presently, she is the president of the
Farwest Rotary Club, a service club, who volunteers with local, national, and international
with the world.
Throughout her life, music has spilled into every phase of her life. So until she can sing with
the angels and dance with the saints, she will continue her love for life, teaching and helping
others, be the reflection of happiness to all whom she touches, and share her wonderful talents
projects, helping the needy around the world.
Greta appeared onstage
in Las Vegas at the Imperial Theatre in the Imperial Palace Hotel at the
Ms. Senior America 2007 National Pageant the week of November 5-11, 2007.
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