Funeral services for Henry Clay Nelson, age 84, will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 19, at the Hayward Lutheran Church. The Rev. John Malm will officiate. Interment will be in the Hayward Cemetery. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the Church.

Henry died on Sunday, May 14, 2006.

Henry (H. C.) was born Nov. 8, 1921, to Samuel and Agnes (Haughton) Nelson, and raised on the family farm near Hayward, where he currently resided. He was united in marriage to Faye Bothum July 10, 1948, in Albert Lea. He attended schools in District 60 near Hayward, and was a member of Hayward Lutheran Church where he was baptized and confirmed. He farmed all his life until his retirement in 1983.

Along with being an avid Minnesota Twins baseball fan, H. C. enjoyed music. He played guitar, accordion, harmonica, and violin, and liked getting together with family and friends to sing and play. He liked to hunt and fish, and took great pleasure in sharing these sports with his children and grandchildren. He was also an accomplished taxidermist, and for many years enjoyed doing taxidermy work for others.

He is survived by his wife, Faye (Bothum) Nelson; children and grandchildren: Linda Christensen (Galen), their children Shane and Andy Christensen; Cindy Lunning-Armon (Bob Armon), children Tad, Trent and Tricia Lunning; Debbie Weite (Paul), their children Tera, Ed, Jeff and Holly; Hal Nelson and son Willie; Scott Nelson and daughters, Lindsey and Hannah; and 17 great-grandchildren. Survivors also include his sisters: Catherine Lorentzen, Faith Kirsch, Dora Levine (Paul), and brother Thomas Nelson (Pat); sisters-in-law: Betty Granholt (Palmer), Lila Johnson (Kendall), and Gilma Bothum, and many nieces and nephews.

Henry was preceded in death by his infant daughter Patricia, his parents, and sister Marguerite Nelson.

H. C. was a wonderful caring husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who was always there for his family. He never lacked for company, as family, grandkids, and their friends enjoyed coming out to visit with Hank. He will forever leave us with many wonderful memories.