1923
Rev.
2015
Rev. Lloyd Nelson
June 28, 1923 — January 27, 2015
Rev. Lloyd A. Nelson, age 91, of Willmar, MN, formerly of Milnor, ND and Grand Forks, ND, died Tuesday afternoon, January 27, at Bethesda PleasantView Nursing Home in Willmar.
Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 31, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar, MN. Interment will be at Ebenezer Cemetery in Kandiyohi, MN. Military Honors will be provided by Austin F. Hanscom American Legion Post 167 of Willmar. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Lloyd was born June 28, 1923 in Grundy County, Illinois, to Willard O. and Esther (Moe) Nelson. He graduated from high school in Newark, IL, in 1941. He worked at Barrett's Hardware Store in Joliet, IL, before entering the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. He served as a radar navigator on a B-29 Super Fortress during World War II. Following his discharge, he worked as a rural mail carrier in Newark, IL. On July 1, 1944, he married Helen Thorson and three children were born to their marriage.
Lloyd attended Augsburg College and Luther Theological Seminary. He was ordained as a Lutheran Minister in 1958. He served Lutheran Church in Milnor, ND, and later established a Mission Church in Emerado, ND, which served the Grand Forks Air Force Base. He became the first full-time chaplain at Valley Memorial Homes in Grand Forks, ND and later continued his ministry at Oak Valley Lutheran Church in Velva, ND. Following retirement, Pastor Lloyd was visitation pastor at 1st Lutheran church in Alexandria, MN, later helped out at Lincoln Lutheran in Hoffman, MN, St. Peter Lutheran Church in Mesa, AZ, and Mountain View Church in Phoenix, AZ.
He is survived by his wife, Helen of Willmar, MN; daughter, Connie (and Stephen) Medin of Spicer, MN, and her children, Andrew (and Brittany) VanDerBill, Elizabeth VanDerBill and Abby, and Nathan (and Stephanie) VanDerBill and Emmett, Weston and an expected child; daughter, Cindy (and Phillip) Johnston of Forest River, ND and Northwest Angle, MN, and their children, Paul (and JoAnn) Johnston and Marah and Liam, and Victoria (and Jason) Gelling and Madeline and William; and son, Lloyd Jr. (and Casey) Nelson of St. Paul, MN, and their children, Matthew (and Katie) Nelson and Kaylie and Celia, and Bree (and Christian) Williams and Reese, Jackson and Dylan. Also surviving are two brothers, Roger (and Mildred) Nelson and Bill Nelson; in-laws, Lou Ahren, Lois Johnston, Cliff (and Lila) Thorson and Dean (and Betty) Thorson; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special nephew, Barry (and Joan) Jacobson of Newark, IL.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Stan Nelson; and son-in-law, Warren VanDerBill.
Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 31, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar, MN. Interment will be at Ebenezer Cemetery in Kandiyohi, MN. Military Honors will be provided by Austin F. Hanscom American Legion Post 167 of Willmar. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Lloyd was born June 28, 1923 in Grundy County, Illinois, to Willard O. and Esther (Moe) Nelson. He graduated from high school in Newark, IL, in 1941. He worked at Barrett's Hardware Store in Joliet, IL, before entering the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. He served as a radar navigator on a B-29 Super Fortress during World War II. Following his discharge, he worked as a rural mail carrier in Newark, IL. On July 1, 1944, he married Helen Thorson and three children were born to their marriage.
Lloyd attended Augsburg College and Luther Theological Seminary. He was ordained as a Lutheran Minister in 1958. He served Lutheran Church in Milnor, ND, and later established a Mission Church in Emerado, ND, which served the Grand Forks Air Force Base. He became the first full-time chaplain at Valley Memorial Homes in Grand Forks, ND and later continued his ministry at Oak Valley Lutheran Church in Velva, ND. Following retirement, Pastor Lloyd was visitation pastor at 1st Lutheran church in Alexandria, MN, later helped out at Lincoln Lutheran in Hoffman, MN, St. Peter Lutheran Church in Mesa, AZ, and Mountain View Church in Phoenix, AZ.
He is survived by his wife, Helen of Willmar, MN; daughter, Connie (and Stephen) Medin of Spicer, MN, and her children, Andrew (and Brittany) VanDerBill, Elizabeth VanDerBill and Abby, and Nathan (and Stephanie) VanDerBill and Emmett, Weston and an expected child; daughter, Cindy (and Phillip) Johnston of Forest River, ND and Northwest Angle, MN, and their children, Paul (and JoAnn) Johnston and Marah and Liam, and Victoria (and Jason) Gelling and Madeline and William; and son, Lloyd Jr. (and Casey) Nelson of St. Paul, MN, and their children, Matthew (and Katie) Nelson and Kaylie and Celia, and Bree (and Christian) Williams and Reese, Jackson and Dylan. Also surviving are two brothers, Roger (and Mildred) Nelson and Bill Nelson; in-laws, Lou Ahren, Lois Johnston, Cliff (and Lila) Thorson and Dean (and Betty) Thorson; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special nephew, Barry (and Joan) Jacobson of Newark, IL.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Stan Nelson; and son-in-law, Warren VanDerBill.
Cemetery Details
Ebenezer Lutheran Cemetery
2929 85th Street NE
Kandiyohi, MN, 56251
Kandiyohi, MN, 56251
Visitation
JAN 31. 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Bethel Lutheran Church
411 Becker Avenue SW
Willmar, MN, US, 56201
http://www.bethelinwillmar.org/
Service
JAN 31. 01:30 PM
Bethel Lutheran Church
411 Becker Avenue SW
Willmar, MN, US, 56201
http://www.bethelinwillmar.org/
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