Jean Marie Iverson, 88, of Hawley, MN passed away on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Essentia Health, Fargo, ND.

Jean was born June 12, 1937, to Walter and Marjorie (Miller) Malakowsky in Hawley, MN. She grew up in Hawley and graduated from Hawley High School in 1955. She attended Valley City College for a year before transferring to Moorhead State College where she received her teaching certificate.

Jean met DeForrest Iverson at a dance in Hitterdal, MN and on August 23, 1958, they were married. She taught in Waubun, MN until she and DeForrest started a family. She stayed home to raise her children and play the vital role of farm wife. After her children were grown, Jean returned to teaching in Ulen-Hitterdal where she remained until retiring in 2007. She continued to be very involved in the school into her 80’s. She also spent over 30 years volunteering at the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion in the Cook Car making endless pots of egg coffee.

Jean enjoyed gardening (both flowers and vegetables), baking, spending her week at the lake, and loved attending her grandchildren’s school activities and sporting events.

Jean is survived by her children, DeAnne Iverson, Dwight (Mary) Iverson, and Janna (Brian) Nelson; grandchildren, Jordan (Austin) Brown, Joe Iverson, DeForrest (Amber) Nelson, Simon Nelson, and Connor Nelson; great-grandchildren, Becker Nelson and Jack Brown; sister, MaryEllen Martin; sisters-in-law, Kim Malakowsky, and Bette Iverson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters, Barbara Crowell, and Kathy Nelson; brother, Steve Malakowsky; granddaughter, Laura Iverson; and brothers-in-law, Hank Nelson, Maurice Martin, Cliff Crowell, Dean Iverson, and Rolland Iverson; and sister-in-law, Bev Iverson. 

Visitation: Sunday, April 26, 2026, from 4-6 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 6:00 at Wright Funeral Home, Hawley, MN.

Memorial Service: Monday, April 27, 2026, at 2 p.m. with a visitation one hour before the service at Hawley United Methodist Church, Hawley, MN.

Final resting place will be in Highland Grove Lutheran Cemetery, Hitterdal, MN.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hawley United Methodist Church, or Highland Grove Cemetery Fund.