Luverne Red Rev. Nelson

Rev. Lu Verne L Nelson, 91, of Westby, died Friday, June 24, 2011. Rev. Lu Verne L. "Red" Nelson Pastor LuVerne "Red" Nelson, age 91, died June 24, 2011 at Vernon Memorial Hospital. He was a resident at Norseland Nursing Home in Westby, WI since 2008. He was born to Martin and Bertha (Sater) Nelson June 13, 1920. He was a graduate of Willmar Public Schools and Augsburg College. He graduated from Augsburg Seminary in 1946, and was ordained in his home church of Calvary Lutheran in Willmar, MN, on August 4, 1946. He married Grace Carlsen on August 7 of the same week. He served the parish of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Powers Lake, ND, from 1946 to 1952 then accepted a letter of call to Spring Lake Park Lutheran/Abiding Savior. He served Abiding Savior until 1975. He finished his 40th year of ministry while serving the Westby-Coon Prairie and Vang parishes, retiring in 1986. Upon retirement, he returned to the Minneapolis area, taking residence in Golden Valley, MN, where he and Grace were active in Calvary Lutheran Church. He was an avid sports fan, and enjoyed good music and conversation. He loved Jesus and continued to share the promise of the resurrection and the love of Christ with all who visited him. "Great is Thy faithfulness!" He was preceded in death by Grace, his wife; a brother, Myron Nelson; grandchildren, Benjamin and Andrea Nelson; parents, Martin and Bertha Nelson; brothers-in-law, Rev. Carl, Rev. Erling, and Rev. Glenn Carlsen; brother-in-law, Arden Foss; sisters-in-law, Caroline Carlsen, and Jane Nelson, and a niece, Terri Carlsen. He is survived by a daughter, Chris Carlsen; sons, Tim and his wife Karen, Randy and his wife Kris, Nick and his wife Rachel, and Dan and his wife Donna; a sister, Margaret, and her husband Dr. Jim Nokleberg; sisters-in-law Ruth Moen and her husband Tom. Beverly and her husband Omar Nelson, and Helen Carlsen; grandchildren, Eric Bullen, Catherine Engle and husband Steven, Tiffany Bergman and husband Dan, Lucas Nelson and fianc Rachel Yonak, Krista, Noah and Kenna Nelson, Alison and Danielle Nelson, and Jacob Nelson; great-grandchildren, Kylie and Savannah Bergman, and Asher and Shea Engle; Nieces, nephews and many friends. Special thanks to the staff at Norseland Nursing Home for the loving care he received over the last 3 years. Funeral service at Westby-Coon Prairie, 500 South Main St. Westby, WI, Thursday, June 30, at 1p.m. Interment in Coon Prairie Cemetary following service. Visitation at the church from 10:30 a.m. until time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.