Donald H. Nelson

Donald Henry Nelson, 81, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Wednesday, October 7, 2015, at Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls.

Donald was born on October 29, 1933, on the family farm in rural Fergus Falls, to Chris H. and Minnie (Splittgerber) Nelson, where he continued to live for the next eighty years. He was baptized on November 18, 1934, and confirmed on August 25, 1946, at Tonseth Lutheran Church of rural Erhard. He attended grade school at Madison Elementary and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1951.

On September 6, 1953, he was married to Dorene Anderson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. They lived and raised their family on the family farm where they raised sheep, beef cattle and hogs. They also had horses and ponies for the enjoyment of their sons and then later their grandchildren. He was also employed by Mills Fleet Farm and then with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at Maplewood and Lake Carlos State Parks, retiring in 1996.

He was a member of Tonseth Lutheran Church. He was the Luther League Advisor, a member of the choir and served as Trustee, Deacon, Treasurer and President of the church council. He was also a part of the Ottertail Planning Commission and was the Friberg Township Supervisor. He was also an associate member of Hope Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls.

Donald enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, fishing, hunting, spending time at their Jewett Lake cabin, playing cards and board games, as well as watching sports, especially the Minnesota Twins, Vikings and Gophers. He also greatly enjoyed his grandchildren and his great-granddaughter. He was known for his sense of humor and made friends where ever he went.

He received quality care these past four months as a resident at PioneerCare.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Minnie Nelson; a granddaughter, Christine Nelson; a sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Morris Hanson; a sister, Lorna Kenyon; a brother and sister-in-law, Lloyd and Dorothy Nelson; and his mother and father-in-law, Art and Neta Anderson.

Donald is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Dorene Nelson of Fergus Falls; two sons, David Nelson of Fergus Falls and Dick (Lynette) Nelson of Fergus Falls; four grandchildren, Austin (Sherry Linn) Nelson, Chelsea (Mo Abdalla) Nelson, Nicole (Mike) Welle and Alexis (Dan Johnson) Nelson; one great-granddaughter, Annika Welle; and numerous in-laws, nephews, nieces and cousins.

Visitation: 5:00-7:00 PM on Sunday, October 11, 2015, at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM, and one hour prior to the service at Hope Lutheran Church
Service: 11:00 AM on Monday, October 12, 2015, at Hope Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Phil Johnson and Pastor Allan Westby
Interment: Tonseth Lutheran Cemetery in rural Erhard