Nellie E. Duerst, age 89, passed away on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at the New Glarus Home. She was born on November 22, 1921 to Albert and Emma (Augsburger) Pfund at rural Belleville. Nellie attended the Ross School. On July 26, 1940 she was united in marriage to Delbert L. Duerst at the Swiss United Church of Christ in New Glarus. She farmed with her husband in the Town of Exeter for almost her entire life. She was a member of the First United Church of Christ in Belleville. Nellie enjoyed playing cards, gardening, crafts, music, dancing, baking, and working in their large lawn on the farm. Following their retirement from farming, Nellie and Delbert enjoyed traveling and camping around the country. Nellie is survived by a son, Ron (Bette) Duerst, a daughter Renae (Bob) Hanson, four grandchildren, Todd (Tina) Hanson, Terri (Mike) Carnell, Andrea (Scott) Pollen, and Alan (Heidi) Duerst, ten great-grandchildren Antwaun, Karac, Travis, Mason, Tyler, Emily, Anthony, Julianna, Janson, and Jessica, and a brother Herman Pfund. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Delbert, sisters-in-law Kathleen Pfund and Lucille Elmer, father-in-law Leon Duerst, and mother-in-law Martha Duerst. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at the First United Church of Christ, 130 E. Church St., Belleville, with the Rev. Heide Walker-Hackman officiating with burial in the Swiss Church Cemetery, New Glarus. Relatives and friends may call from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28, 2011 at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home, 109 Greenway Cross, Belleville. A special thank you to the staff at the New Glarus Home for their care and support during the past five years. A memorial fund has been established.