In 1958, Los Alamos Garden Club members began work on the Memorial Rose Garden at Fuller Lodge. "By planting roses dug by hand, our community had found a way to honor the deceased - a place of beauty where loved ones could be remembered - a tradition that continues today," said MJ, a former Garden Club president who helped establish the Memorial Rose Garden.

MJ came to Los Alamos to teach school in August 1945 and taught here for thirty-five years. She met Clifford Nilsson at a dorm party shortly after arriving on the hill. Cliff and MJ were married on April 22, 1946 in Plains, Kansas. Their three children, Karen, Jan, and Alan were raised in Los Alamos.

A charter member of the United Church, MJ has been involved in many aspects of the multi-denominational church, serving as Sunday school superintendent and on the Christian education board. She was chairperson of the church council, served on the ministerial search, stewardship and LIFT committees and on the board of elders.

Additional biographical material can be found in the Los Alamos Monitor of September 12, 2004.

Written by Karen Nilsson Brandt, copyright ©