Arlene Nelson

Arlene S. Nelson, age 90, of Willmar, died unexpectedly Friday, Aug. 3, at Carris Health Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9, at Vinje Lutheran Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at a later date at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. www.petersonbrothers.com

Arlene S. (Michelson) Nelson was born on November 23, 1927, in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota, to Harold and Amanda Michelson, where she was the second youngest of 11 children. She graduated from Buffalo Lake School in 1945 and began working at Hardware Mutual in Minneapolis. She met Wallace Nelson, the love of her life, in 1947 on a blind date, and they were married on June 18, 1947. After an initial 6 years in Duluth, Wally and Arlene moved to Lamberton and started the University of Minnesota Experiment Station. She was very active in supporting the activities at the station and was Wally's constant companion and help mate. Being a mother and grandmother were her greatest joys. She lived her faith in daily life and was involved in all aspects of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. She loved being social and was involved in PTA, bridge groups, 4H, Reading Club, etc. After retirement, they spent 20 winters in Mesa, Arizona with their many friends and then moved to Willmar where she spent the last 10 years of their life. Arlene loved family activities, holidays, cooking and cards. She loved to dance and was constantly reading books and magazines. She always loved children and had an open heart for any small animal. Over the past 7 years, she has lived at Copperleaf Senior Community where she loved her neighbors and made many wonderful friends.

Arlene is survived by her two children and their families, Tom (Linda) Nelson of Apple Valley and Kathy (Fred) Hund of Willmar; seven grandchildren: Mark (Nicole) Nelson, Paul (Angie) Nelson, Megan (Charlie) Hieb, John (Anna) Nelson, Rachel Hammarberg, Amanda (Ryan Terrien) Hund, Sarah (Ryan) Hagemeyer, and 6 greatgrandchildren, besides other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her ten siblings and her wonderful husband, of 68 years.

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