Cover photo for Donald Nelson's Obituary
Donald Nelson Profile Photo
1933 Donald 2010

Donald Nelson

April 6, 1933 — November 21, 2010

Don Nelson, 77, of Elbow Lake, died Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010, at the Lakeland Hospice House in Fergus Falls.

Funeral: 1:30 pm on Sat., Nov. 27, Bethlehem/West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church in Elbow Lake

Clergy: Pastor Scott Ruud

Burial: Union Cemetery, Elbow Lake

Visitation: Friday from 5-7 pm at Bethlehem/West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church and resume one hour before the service on Saturday.



Donald Paul Nelson was born April 6, 1933, in Elbow Lake to Paul S. and Ivy (Blume) Nelson. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Herman and graduated from Herman High School in 1951.

On March 7, 1953, Don married Gladys Lohse, and the couple farmed in Elbow Lake Township until 1989, when they moved to Elbow Lake. Don purchased Don's Car Wash in 1988. He was an active member of Bethlehem/West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church where he spent countless hours volunteering his time to keep everything running smoothly. Don wouldn't belong to any organization if he couldn't dedicate the time and energy to it.

He served on the Soil and Water Conservation Board, chairman of the Herman Market Board, the Elbow Lake Power Commission, and Bethlehem Church. An avid golfer, Don also served on the Tipsinah Mounds Golf Board.

Survivors include his wife Gladys; children Michael (Julie) Nelson of Elbow Lake, Teresa (Jim) Gruber of St. Paul, and Lynda (Denny) Bell of Terre Haute, Indiana; grandchildren Janee (Kurt) Strunk, Reid Nelson, Kayla (John) Todd, Merit and Brenna Bell, and Angela Gruber; one great-grandchild, Tenley Michelle Strunk; and one brother, Ken (Joan) Nelson of Crestone, Colorado. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Ivy Nelson.

Memorials may be made to the Bethlehem/West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Nelson, please visit our flower store.

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