DeLoyne L. Nelson

DeLoyne L. (Eilertson) Nelson, 96, of Lake Park, MN, passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital, Detroit Lakes, MN.

DeLoyne, daughter of Hazel and Loren Eilertson, was born February 26, 1929. She very much enjoyed her childhood in the rural Lake Park- Audubon area. She and her brother, Jerain, attended country school in the LPA area until they moved to Lansing, Michigan, when DeLoyne was in 5th grade. In the midst of the Depression Loren found work in Lansing, where several of his 13 siblings resided. A year later the family of four moved back to Minnesota, and DeLoyne attended District 50 through 8th grade. Then it was on to LPHS. She spent the summer before her senior year in Stockton, California, with her brother and parents, again because there was work for her parents there.

After graduating in 1946, Deloyne worked in the office of the Lake Park superintendent, Carl Narveson, planning to attend Moorhead State in the fall of 1947. She even made a $5 payment to reserve a dorm room. However, Norman Nelson popped the question, and they were married at the Lake Park Lutheran parsonage on April 4, 1947. (In case you’re wondering, DeLoyne did get her $5 back.) After living in town for the first three years while Norm continued farming with his dad, Ernest, in 1950 they moved to the “home place,” five miles south of Lake Park. Their five children grew up on the home place and attended school in Lake Park.

DeLoyne was a homemaker, which included doing all the household chores, with a tiny bit of help from her daughters. She also milked the cows, delivered afternoon lunches, and mowed the lawn- among many other farm wife jobs. DeLoyne and Norman joined Strandvik Church when they moved to the farm. For DeLoyne, the Ladies’ Aid meetings were the religious and social highlight of each month’s short business meeting, inspirational program, and delicious lunch.

A special memory for DeLoyne in her spiritual journey was the Billy Graham Crusade in Fargo in 1987. Singing in the mass choir for this three-day event was very meaningful and uplifting for her. After Norman’s passing in 2010, DeLoyne remained on the farm until 2012 when she moved into Lake Park, just a block away from LPAHS. During her time living in town, she did a lot of baking. (She was famous for her donuts); she helped tie quilts at Eksjo, often attended Thursday morning worship at Sunnyside, joined an exercise class at the city center for the 65+ crowd, and played cards at the same location on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. She also attended many, many basketball and volleyball games to watch her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was visited often by family members and enjoyed a game of cards with any willing participants. She will be missed. God bless her memory.

DeLoyne is survived by her children, Diane (Steve) Midthune, Bonnie Erickson, Kevan Nelson, Curt (Kathy) Nelson, and Barry (Jamie) Nelson; grandchildren, John Levin, Anne (Gordon) Braseth, Amy (Mark) Porter, Sarah (Eddie) Reif, Ryan (Stacy) Nelson, Jennifer (Brad) Browning, Jacob (Angie) Nelson, Lisa (Nathan) Lindblad, Kraig (Marie) Nelson, Jeremy Nelson, Taytum Nelson, Kendra Nelson, and Macey Nelson; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Trevor and Tommy Levin, Jenna Payton, and Brody Braseth, Benjamin, Carson, and Sydney Porter, Jackson Porter, Hazel and Alex Reif, Nick, Nathan, and Jerad Nelson, Jordyn Nelson, Cody Browning, Sophia and Myles Nelson, Gunner Lindblad, and Zylee, Qynlee, and Jory Nelson; sister-in-law, Kelly Eilertson; her last two surviving cousins, Bob Eilertson and Arlene Schooley; like-a-sister, Barb Baldrica; and many other loving relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Norman E. Nelson; son-in-law, Charles Erickson; parents, Loren and Hazelle; brother, Jerain Eilertson; and numerous other family members.

Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., followed by the prayer service at 7:00 P.M., Friday, March 7, 2025, at Wright Funeral Home, Hawley, MN. Visitation will continue from 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M., followed by the memorial service at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Eksjo Lutheran Church, Lake Park, MN. A livestream of the service will be available on her webpage at www.wrightfuneral.com where a guestbook and video tribute may also be found. Her final resting place will be at Strandvik Cemetery at a later date.