Elizabeth "Betty" Nelson

Betty Nelson, 100, of Oslo, MN, passed away on Friday, October 7, 2016, in Lutheran Sunset Home, Grafton, ND.

Elizabeth Ball Klessig was born on December 26, 1915, in Reading, MN, to William and Mary (Ball) Klessig. When she was two-years-old, the family moved to Florida where the climate better suited her father's illness. They moved back north to Worthington, MN, where Betty graduated as valedictorian of her high school in 1933. After graduation, Betty lived in Seattle, WA, and during wartime, did factory work building planes. After the war she returned to Minnesota, living in International Falls.

On November 27, 1954, Betty was united in marriage to William F. “Bill” Nelson, on her parents' farm outside of Badger, MN. The couple made their home on a farm outside of Oslo and were members of Zion Lutheran Church. Bill passed away on October 19, 1968.

Betty was a lifelong member of the Oak Park Homemakers Club and an Oslo 4H Club leader. She loved life on the farm, working alongside her husband and raising beautiful Simmental cattle. She also loved to garden and visit her neighbors.

Betty will be remembered as a loving mother whose grandchildren where the “light of her life.”

She is survived by her two children, John (Judy) Nelson of Oslo, and Beatrice “Bea” (Marvin) Bolek of Minto, ND; grandchildren, Rachel (Dave) Meske, Curtis Nelson, Megan Bolek, Samantha (Michael) Novak, and Ross Bolek; and great-grandson, Fritz Meske.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bill; and siblings, Fred Klessig and Margaret Moen.
 

Visitation: One hour prior to services at the church.

Memorial Service: Friday, October 14, 2016, at 2:30 PM, in Zion Lutheran Church, Oslo, MN.

Interment: Oak Park Lutheran Cemetery, rural Oslo, MN.

 Service Information