Funeral services for Mabel M.J. Nelson of St. John’s Lutheran Home, Albert Lea, will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, at the First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Dan Baker will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.

Mabel died on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2006, at St. John’s Lutheran Home. She was 95.

Mabel was born on Feb. 4, 1911, in Albert Lea, the daughter of Richard C. and Anna O. (Svanberg) Johnson. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1929, and as a dental hygienist from University of Minnesota in 1931. Mabel was united in marriage to Merrill Nelson Sr. on Jan. 19, 1932.

In addition to Albert Lea, she had also lived in Heron Lake and Benson, Minn., Hillsboro, N.D. and then returned to Albert Lea where she had made her home since 1947.

Mabel lost her husband Merrill to a heart attack in 1960. Following his death, she used her education and began working

as a dental hygienist for Dr. Wendell P. Lewis. This she did for several years to help support her family. She also lived and cared for her father-in-law, James C. Nelson, and continued her faithful visits to him at St. John’s Lutheran Home until he died in 1985. Mabel was always there for her family, and enjoyed creating warm, loving memories for them.

Mabel was a member of First Lutheran Church where she had been active in Circle 29, altar guild, bible study and had taught Sunday School. She had been active in the Travel Class, D.O.E.S. and delivered Meals on Wheels. Mabel enjoyed traveling and had especially fond memories of Hawaii and Germany. Mabel was a bridge playing fanatic and loved the game as well as the friendships it created.

Throughout her adult life she was so blessed and strengthened by the friendship of Marjorie Albright who died just a month ago.

She also found her pet &8220;Snooper&8221; to be a friendly companion throughout the years.

Mabel is survived by her sons: Richard J. &8220;Cannonball&8221; Nelson and his wife Kathleen of Albert Lea, Merrill O. &8220;Ditto&8221; Nelson Jr. and his wife Patricia of Dunnellon, Fla., grandchildren: Joshua Nelson of Fargo, N.D., Jerrod Nelson of Madison, Wis., Kirsten and her husband Andy Voller and their daughter Alexa Anne of Scandia, Minn.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Merrill O. Nelson Sr., her brother Gordon R. Johnson, her mother-in-law and father-in-law Anna and James C. Nelson.

Memorials are suggested to Peace and Power at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea.