Carol J. Nelson

Carol J. Nelson, 74 of Hawley, MN passed away on Monday, October 24th, 2011 at Sunnyside Care Center under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.Carol Jeanette was born to Andrew and Jennie Louise Larson Quam in Hawley, MN on July, 1, 1937. She grew up in Hawley where she graduated from high school. On October 6, 1956 she married Lyle K. Nelson, also of Hawley. Together they had five children.Carol was a dedicated military wife and mother who faced the challenges that came with raising children while balancing military moves and deployments during Lyle's career in the U.S. Marine Corps. She was also a very talented vocalist, singing for many weddings, funerals and other local community events. Carol had a knack for sewing and carpentry work. What had started as a hobby, turned into a small business, Carol's Crafts, selling her handmade items at area craft shows. She taught Sunday school at Hawley Lutheran and later played piano for the worship services at the Audubon Chapel. She was a charter member of the Hawley Emergency Response Team HERT and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. In 1984 she was the recipient of Hawley's "Today's Woman" and was very proud of that award. In February of 2008 Carol moved to Hawley Senior Living. She resided there until January of 2011 when she moved to Sunnyside Care Center in Lake Park, MN.She is survived by her children, Keith of St. Cloud, MN, Kathy Anderson of Hawley, Jim Nelson of Hawley, Jenni Dave Barr of Cormorant and Bob Nelson of Hawley; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; her siblings, Patricia Merle Hough of Detroit Lakes, Roger Martha Quam of Sioux Falls, SD and David Carol Quam of Chaska, MN.She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle; her parents; her brothers, Lawrence Elsie and Kenneth Quam; sisters, Dorothy Cliff Hovelsrud and Eileen Frank Wallerius.