Dorothea Nelson

Dorothea M. Nelson, age 103, of Willmar, died Tuesday morning, April 24, at Bethesda Grand in Willmar.


Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, April 30, at the First Presbyterian Church in Willmar. Interment will be at Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.


Dorothea Mildred Nelson was born on April 8, 1915, in Plainview, Nebraska, the daughter of Olaf and Augusta Mathilda (Tengstrom Granfors) Larson Haymer. The family moved to Colome, South Dakota in 1918 where Dorothea's father worked as the section foreman for the Chicago & North Western Railroad. Dorothea received her education from the Colome school district. On June 5, 1935, in Winner, South Dakota, Dorothea was united in marriage to Reuben Nelson. They moved to Willmar to help Reuben's parents on their farm. In the fall of 1935, they moved to Minneapolis, where their son, Duane was born on August 2, 1936. In the spring of 1937, they returned to Willmar to run the family farm. In 1941, they purchased a farm southwest of Willmar (what is now WCI and the recycling center). On October 27, 1943, their twin daughters, Deloria and Delores, were born. In 1956, they purchased a farm 3 miles west of Willmar and moved there in 1958. They continued to farm the land until their retirement. Dorothea was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and was active with the Deacon Board, served as the Circle Chairman, was chairman of the "Over 60's Club" and was a representative from Presbyterian Church for the "Church Women United" and was Fellowship Chairman on the Women's Association Board. She enjoyed traveling with Reuben across the United States and Alaska to visit family and friends. Dorothea always had a large garden with flowers. She will be best remembered for her positive attitude and willingness to help others.


She is survived by her twin daughters, Deloria Arends of Willmar and Delores (and John) Heidecker of Willmar; ten grandchildren; twenty-nine great grandchildren and numerous great great grandchildren, besides other relatives and friends.


She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Reuben in 1991; her son, Duane in 2004; one son-in-law, Roger Arends; one brother, John; and three sisters, Elsa Dirks, Lois Spinar and Helen Troester.

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