Norma Elaine Nelson

Norma Elaine Johnson was born on January 24, 1931, to Justin and Beatrice Johnson at the Detroit Lakes Hospital (later renamed St. Mary’s). The weather was unseasonably warm that day and her mother often reminisced about listening to the water running down the gutters and in the streets while in the hospital. Norma grew up on the family farm just east of Eksjo Lutheran Church, first attending country school and then Lake Park High School. She was active in church activities, music, drama and speech competitions in high school. One of her fondest high school memories was playing Emily in Our Town.

Following graduation in 1948, Norma attended Moorhead State Teachers College obtaining a two-year Bachelor’s degree. She would later go back to school and complete her 4-year degree in elementary education. Norma taught a total of 34 years, working first in the Fertile School District, then Hitterdal, then Lake Park and finally the Lake Park/Audubon School District. Her first job was terminated due to her engagement to Rollie Nelson in 1951—after all, “married women don’t need jobs”. Her next three positions (Hitterdal, Lake Park, then Lake Park again) ended when she announced each of her pregnancies. After the third time, she was sure her working life was over, but the woman hired to take her position also became pregnant and so back to work Norma went in the spring of 1963. She continued to teach in Lake Park (and eventually the Lake Park-Audubon School District) until her retirement in 1992.

Norma and Rollie were married on June 4th,1952 at Eksjo. They first lived at the hotel in Lake Park, but soon moved into a tiny, 1 bedroom home in town. In 1960, the Nelsons moved out of town and onto a farm 4 miles south of Lake Park where they remained until after Rollie’s death in 2002. One year later, Norma moved off the farm and into Lake Park. There she continued to spend time playing cards with friends and enjoying community events. She also gained a “friend”, Charlie Lindstrom, in 2009. Their close relationship continued until his death in 2022.

Throughout her lifetime, music and reading were two of her passions. There was a partially read book next to her chair at Sunnyside at the time of her death. She sang in the church choir, community cantatas and a number of women’s chorus groups, even taking voice lessons in her 50’s. She was active in her church, although she refused to teach Sunday School saying teaching 5 days a week was enough. She treasured time with her friends, including the infamous Birthday Club, the group of college friends she traveled with each summer, her church friends and her teaching friends. Having been an only child who wished she had a brother/sister, she was appalled that her own children argued and the raucous Nelson gatherings were truly eye-opening for her but she cared deeply for her in-laws, nieces and nephews. However the real lights of her life were her two grandchildren, Mason and Laina. While she tried not to brag about them (much), her eyes lit up when she talked about them to the staff at Sunnyside and their visits were the highlights of her days.

Norma moved into Sunnyside Nursing Home in December of 2019 following a fall that resulted in a broken hip. Originally planning to just stay there through the winter for rehab, the Covid pandemic hit that spring and it was decided that she would remain at Sunnyside to ensure that she was not alone. A serious bout of Covid and another broken hip put an end to thoughts of returning to her home and she remained at Sunnyside until her death on October 24, 2024.

Norma is survived by her son Bruce, daughter-in-law Teresa, daughter Terri, grandson Mason, granddaughter Laina, sisters-in-law Myrt Tufton and DeLoyne Nelson as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Rollie, her daughter Cathy, her good friend Charlie, brothers-in-law Norman Nelson, Arvid Nelson, Bud Tufton, Harvey Olson and sisters-in-law Dorothy Olson and Marlys Nelson.

Services will be held on Saturday, November 9th at Eksjo Lutheran Church. A time for sharing memories will be held at 9:30 that morning, followed by visitation at 10:30 and the funeral at 11:00. Norma’s ashes will be buried next to her husband following the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, which Norma felt was an extravagant expense, the family asks that you donate books in her memory. Suggested recipients include Sunnyside Nursing Home (large print editions please), the Eksjo Church Library or the Lake Park-Audubon School District.

The family would like to thank all those who have reached out to support us during this time, as well as those who were so supportive of Norma during these past years. A special “thank you” to the staff at Sunnyside who cared for her so well.