Mabel Nelson

Mabel S. Nelson, age 93, of Willmar, died Wednesday evening, September 29, at the Bethesda Heritage Center in Willmar.
Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, October 4, at First Covenant Church in Willmar. The interment will be in the Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. Sunday, October 3, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Mabel was born February 5, 1917, in Thompson, Iowa, to Gunvald and Anna (Mickelson) Akre. At the age of one, her family moved north of Atwater. They later moved to the Willmar community, where Mabel received her education. On January 10, 1937, Mabel married Clarence Nelson and they made their home in Willmar. They raised their family and she worked part-time in area cafes and later worked for the Lakeland Hotel in the cafe and serving banquets. They owned and operated the Hamburger House for a short time and she then went to work at Juba's SuperValu working in the meat dept., bakery and managed the deli. In 1973, she began working in food service at the Willmar Regional Treatment Center until she retired in 1984. After her retirement, Mabel began working for the Meals-on-Wheels Program and food service at West Central Industries.
Mabel was a member of First Covenant Church, where she was active in the church women's organizations, the Dorcas Circle, Sunday School and volunteered in the kitchen. She served as a 4-H and Girl Scout leader and as an activities volunteer at Bethesda Homes for 17 years. Mabel enjoyed being outside, birdwatching, sewing, baking, making lefse and helping her family and friends. She also enjoyed playing games, bowling and traveling.
She is survived by two sons: Clifford Nelson of Willmar and Robert (and Nancy) Nelson of Garfield; four daughters: Dorothy Freese of Edina, Marian Hoogheem of Anoka, Lois Hoogheem of Maynard and Shirley Nelson of Willmar; 18 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters: Gladys (and Oscar) Mattson of Willmar and Marie (and Elrue) Dunsmore of St. Cloud; and other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clarence in 1977; a son: David Nelson in 1993; a grandson, Rick Nelson in 2008; three great-grandchildren: Jason Ruter, Shane Hoogheem and Kyanna Hoogheem; a brother: Clarence Akre; and three sisters: Ruth Martin, Helen Heath and Ann Hoogheem.