Thief River Falls - Nels X. Nelson, 98, died Saturday, March 18, 2000 at the CNC unit of Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 23 at Westaker Free Lutheran Church in Newfolden with Rev. LeRoy Flickinger officiating. Vocalists will include Kathy Johnson, Jodi Schultz and Kevin Nelson.
Casketbearers will be Hugh Nelson, Tim Nelson, Donovan Nelson, Darwin Nelson, Jay Nelson, Robert Nelson, Todd Nelson and Kevin Nelson. Honorary casketbearers will be Dawn Dollinger, Debbie Custer, Kim Borwicz, Lisa Lefrooth, Margaret Erickson, Carol Wappala, Kathy Johnson, Susan Baker, Patty Woinarowicz, Mana Lee, Lorie Bring, Clarinda Johnson, Bonnie Johnson, Wendy Johnson, Wade Johnson, Brad Johnson, Howard Nelson, Marla Augustine, Nancy Engen and Jodi Schultz. Burial will be in Westaker Cemetery in New Folden township of Marshall county.
Visitation will be held today (Wednesday, March 22) from 3 to 8 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls with a 6 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to services at the church.
Nels X. Nelson was born on November 13, 1901 in Oslo, Norway, the son of Lars and Bertha Nelson. The family came to the United States when Nels was three years old, living in Grand Forks, ND and then in Rainy River, Ontario, Canada.
Nels met his future wife, Eva Willard, in Michigan, ND, an the couple was united in marriage on December 17, 1024 in Leonard, MN. They lived in several places, including Montana and northern Minnesota. Nels was employed as a laborer, helping clear trees for road work and helping area farmers. The couple managed the Sportsman Club in Middle River as well as the restaurant in Newfolden. Nels and Eva resided in Newfolden until November of 1998 when they moved to the CNC unit at Northwest Medical Center.
Nels is survived by his wife, Eva; one daughter, Delores (Raymond) Westerlund of Middle River; three sons, Art (JoAnn) Nelson and Edwin (Marcy) Nelson, both of Strandquist, and Donald (Julie) Nelson of Williams; one daughter-in-law, Annabelle Nelson of Strathcona; 30 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; and 30 great great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Kenneth; two grandsons, Dwight and Dale Nelson; one great-grandson, Rett Erickson; three brothers, Edwin, Lars and Martin Nelson; two sisters, Bertha and Martha; and two daughters-in-law, Evelyn and Mildred Nelson. A00003B2000MR22