Donna Annette Nelson

The funeral service was live-streamed at:  https://vimeo.com/980188031

Donna A. Nelson, age 69, of rural Pennock, passed away unexpectedly Friday, June 28, at CentraCare Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. 

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, at the Willmar Assembly of God Church. Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in New London. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, at the Willmar Assembly of God Church and will continue for one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. www.petersonbrothers.com 

Donna Annette Reigstad Nelson was born on July 13, 1954, in Willmar, Minnesota, to Kermit and Una (Henjum) Reigstad. She grew up on the family farm between Swenson Lake and Lake Mary. She attended country school through 3rd grade. She graduated from New London-Spicer High School in 1972 and later graduated from Ridgewater College. She was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Jerry Nelson, on June 15, 1973. They were blessed with 51 years of marriage. They resided near Norway Lake where they had four children, Zachael, Tonia, Joshua, and Jed. They built their home on her family farm where she resumed her childhood love of horseback riding and country living. 

Donna took great pride in her four children and fifteen grandchildren. Spending her life chasing her kids and grandkids to the court, field, mat, and various activities, brought her so much joy. The kids loved the fact that she would always be there. It didn’t matter how far she had to travel, she would be there cheering them on.

She loved reading and was a lifelong learner. Although she worked various jobs and owned a business with her husband, her true passion was people. She spent her life serving as a wife, mom, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, friend, and most importantly, a grandma.

Her relationship with Jesus was the most important thing in her life. She was passionate about sharing her faith with everyone, especially her kids and grandkids. She was a prayer warrior and was the one everyone went to when there was any type of prayer need.

She is survived by her husband, Jerry; her four children, Zach (and Rachel) Nelson, Tonia (and Doug) Finstrom, Joshua (and Gina) Nelson, and Jed (and Lindsey) Nelson; fifteen grandchildren, Eli Nelson, Esau Nelson, Dia Linn Nelson, Isaac Call, Alex Call, Kierra Finstrom, Isaiah Nelson, Caleb Nelson, Jeremiah Nelson, Josiah Nelson, Addilyn Nelson, Ethan Nelson, Abram Nelson, Cannon Nelson, Olivia Nelson; her mother-in-law, Rose Nelson, and other relatives and friends.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Kermit and Una; her sister Patsy; and father-in-law, Duaine Nelson.