Effie Grace Nelson, 83, of Cambridge and formerly of Ellendale and Lake Havasu City, Ariz., died Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

Effie Grace Nelson was born Feb. 8, 1924, in Hollandale to Bert and Jennie (VandenHeuvel) Wiersma. She was raised in Hollandale and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1942. After graduation Effie attended St. Olaf College and then cosmetology school in Minneapolis. Effie started her career at the beauty shop in Hollandale where she met Lyman Nelson, who was doing some construction on the building where her shop was located. On Aug. 23, 1950, Effie was united in marriage to Lyman Nelson in Hollandale. They resided in Ellendale where Lyman was a partner in Nelson Meland Hardware Store. Effie owned and operated Klip & Kurl Beauty Shop until 1964 when she sold her shop and started working with her husband at the hardware store.

Effie was very involved with Commercial Club, heart, cancer and various other charity drives, she was President of PTA, of the VFW Auxiliary Post 8941, she was an officer of River Trails Girl Scouts, and she was a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. Effie also worked with many people at the NRHEG School District where she conducted the school census for at least 30 years and where she was also a school election judge. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Ellendale where she served in the choir, as organist, pianist, Sunday School Superintendent and teacher, and held several other officer positions.

Effie and Lyman enjoyed wintering in Arizona for 20 years. They also spent time in the summers at Hackensack, where Effie really enjoyed helping her niece at her resort, Sunset Bay Camp Resort. Family times were very important to Effie. She greatly enjoyed time with her son, daughter, their spouses and the grandchildren. Effie also loved fishing, playing cards and craft work.

Lyman preceded Effie in death on Oct. 6, 1993, and Effie has made her home at Riverwood Village in Cambridge since 2002. She became an associate member of the United Methodist Church in Cambridge.

Effie will be lovingly remembered by her son, Robert (Rev. Diane) Nelson of Cambridge; daughter, Cheryl (Jeff) Backowski of Ramsey; four grandchildren, Christina Marie Nelson of Oakdale, Jay Robert Nelson, Jeremy John Nelson, and Michael Andrew Nelson all of Cambridge; step-grandchild, Jeffrey Backowski II and a step-great-grandchild, Judith Backowski, both of Tulare, Calif.; brother, Bert (Karen) Wiersma of Ellendale; sister-in-law, Helen Slegh of Hollendale; brother-in-law, John Ravenhorst of Walker;

and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bert and Jennie (VandenHeuvel) Wiersma; husband, Lyman; brother, William Wiersma; sisters-in-law, LouElla (Nelson) Ravenhorst and Virginia (Pechacek) Nelson; brother-in-law, John B. Nelson; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Adolph and Ella (Wilson) Nelson.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Strike Funeral Home, Cambridge Chapel, (763) 689-2070. A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Cambridge with a visitation also one hour prior to the service at the church. A second service will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Ellendale with a visitation one hour prior at the church.