Martin Nelson, 1932-2014

Published 9:00 am Sunday, August 10, 2014

A memorial service for Martin Richard “Dick” Nelson, 82, of Albert Lea will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Rev. Curtis Zieske will officiate.

Martin Nelson

Martin died Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer.

Martin Richard Nelson was born Feb. 14, 1932, to Jens Peter Nelson and Minne E. (Jensen) Nelson in Ellendale. He was confirmed at and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Dick started farming at 17 and just recently and reluctantly retired at 80.

On Oct. 7, 1951, Dick was united in marriage to Mavis Caroline Grosland in Northwood. He said on their 61st anniversary, “Marrying her was the best decision I ever made.” Dick and Mavis bought the family farm and moved to rural Albert Lea. There the couple lived and raised their three children. Dick enjoyed spending time with family and was very fond of his grandchildren. He was very supportive and enjoyed cheering on his grandchildren at sporting events. He was very proud of his family. Dick enjoyed old time music, polka dancing and playing the accordion. He enjoyed playing cards — especially 500 — and treating himself to sweets. A couple of his favorites were homemade caramels and Snickers bars. He enjoyed watching the news and staying up on current events and was always game for talking politics — and was not afraid to voice his opinion! He also enjoyed following the commodities and markets, walking the fields, weeding and tinkering in the shed. He enjoyed the outdoors and mowing the yard and driving his tractors. He was from the “if it’s broke we fix it” era and didn’t like to throw out anything because someone might need it one day.

Dick enjoyed spending time visiting with his hospice nurses and was very grateful for their care during the last days of his life. The family would like to thank Dick’s caretakers for their excellent work and loving care.

Survivors include his wife, Mavis; children Merlyn (Mary) Nelson, Mary (Gary) Loewenberg and Gary Hillman; sister, Dorothy (Donald) Larson; grandchildren Jennifer (Cody), Jason and Daniel Nelson, Jeremy (Diane), James (Kara), Jens (Julia), Jay (Carrie) and Jon Loewenberg, and Peter (Niccole), David (Carrie) and Laura (Ryan) Hillman; great-grandchildren Jake, Morgan, Kylie, Ava, Mya, Julia, Alan, Jasmine, Martin, Alexander, Veronica and Mariah; two aunts; sister-in-laws; brother-in-laws; nieces; nephews and cousins.

Martin was preceded in death by his daughter, Marilyn Hillman; grandchild, Randee Kim Bogue; parents Jens and Minnie Nelson; and mother- and father-in-law Oscar and Inah Grosland.

Dick made the choice to donate his body as a practical and compassionate gesture. He gifted his body as a final act of caring and to leave a legacy of hope for the future.