Sally Anne Dunn

Sally Anne Dunn of St. Louis Park, MN passed away peacefully on September 25, 2025, at the age of 79. Sally was born on February 20, 1946, to her late parents Martin T. and Dorothy C. Dunn. She was preceded in death by her former husband, married for 35 years, Ray Edward Nelson. Sally is survived by her beloved son, David Charlton Nelson, and her five siblings: Susan M. Harrer (Tom), Mark R. Dunn (Paula), M. Maureen Buss (Cardell), John T. Dunn (Tricia), and Kathleen E. Lewin (Mark). Sally graduated from Washburn High School in 1964 and the University of Minnesota School of Nursing in 1968. Always a lover of learning, Sally earned her Masters Degree in Public Health from the U of M in 1977. After her first job at Settergren Hardware on Penn Ave. in South Minneapolis in 1962, Sally spent her entire career in health care, including nursing positions at many hospitals in the Twin Cities area: U of M, Mt. Sinai Hospital, United and Children's Hospital, Sister Kenny Institute (now Abbott-Northwestern), and Carondolet Community Hospital (now U of M). She also worked at Medica Health Care Plan and UCare Minnesota. Always up for an adventure, Sally loved travelling for pleasure and work. One of Sally's favorite jobs was a school nurse for the US Department of Defense's Office of Overseas Dependent's Education. This position took her to Ansbach, Germany; Okinawa, Japan; and Tainan, Taiwan. She also worked many years for HealthPartners in Bloomington as well as for St. Paul/Ramsey County Public Health. Sally had a passion for helping folks in their later years and served in various positions benefitting the aging. She even founded the non-profit, North Country Aging Public Health. Sally enjoyed many outdoor activities, including riding her bike, hiking, canoeing, swimming in the chilly waters up north, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and volunteering at the Arboretum. She cherished the art of fly fishing and was an inaugural member in the 1990's of Fly-Fishing Women of Minnesota. She found immense delight in the peaceful moments spent at her cabin near Lutsen, Minnesota. Sally was deeply committed to recycling and composting, always ensuring that anything recyclable or compostable found its proper place-whether at home or wherever she happened to be. Her dedication to environmental stewardship was unwavering and extended to every space she entered. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318) where Sally has donated a bench (on the Ridge Trail near the Tashian Bee Center). Donations may also be made to WTIP North Shore Community Radio, where Sally volunteered as a cohost. (WTIP.org; 1712 West Hwy 61 / PO Box 1005, Grand Marais, MN 55604) A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Creekside United Church of Christ, 106 East Diamond Lake Road, Minneapolis, MN. Sally's family will greet guests at a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. before the service, and at a luncheon following the service.

Tributes

Sally Anne Dunn

February 20, 1946 - September 25, 2025

Tributes

Sally Anne Dunn

February 20, 1946 - September 25, 2025

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