Nagel, Elizabeth Catherine (Betsy Jean Larson) passed away at age 80 on June 3, 2021, in Roseville, Minnesota after several years of declining health. She was born on October 11, 1940, in Edgerton, Minnesota to Marjorie Estella Conrad and Clarence Theodore "Ted" Larson. She grew up in Breckenridge, Minnesota where she met the love of her life, Clemens John Nagel Jr., and they married in 1962.
Elizabeth earned BS in biochemistry from North Dakota State University. In 1975, she completed her PhD in psychology from the University of Minnesota. She worked as a psychologist in private practice and was adjunct faculty at United Theological Seminary in the Twin Cities. She earned a MA in Theology from the University of St. Catherine in 2003. In her later decades, Elizabeth followed her heart to work as a fine arts photographer, writer, and poet, often collaborating with Clem.
Elizabeth and Clem traveled the globe together seeking adventure, hiking, and birdwatching. They were the ultimate DIY couple, tackling building and remodeling projects with gusto and humor. They created beautiful gardens together and she sewed exquisite quilts. Elizabeth loved classical music, public television, dark chocolate, and her cats.
Elizabeth is dearly missed by her family and friends. Clem was always by her side, bringing her comfort and sharing the joy of a life well-lived. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Curt. She is survived by her daughters Lizabeth Gockel (Andy Gockel) and Susan Nagel (Dave Schaller), her sister Lorraine Larson, and her five grandchildren: Ben Gockel, Sam Gockel, Grace Gockel, Henry Schaller, and George Schaller.
Memorials may be made to Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts or YMCA Camp Menogyn.
Elizabeth said, “The process of writing for me is essential as my breath.” Her work can be found in her books and on her online blogs:
- Waiting for the Heat to Pass
- There is No Future in the Past: A Travel Memoir
- Prairie Sky Prairie Ground
- Listen For the Silence: a Walk through the Natural World
- Conversations Images and Poetry
and online at http://nagelandnagel.blogspot.com and http://essaysbyecnagel.blogspot.com
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A favorite quote by John Burroughs:
Too Short
I still find each day too short for
all the thoughts I want to think,
all the walks I want to take, all
the books I want to read, and all
the friends I want to see. The
longer I live, the more my mind
dwells upon the beauty and the
wonder of the world.
