Pamela A. Nelson

Pamela A Nelson passed away peacefully on September. 6, surrounded by her loving family.Pam was born October 29, 1945 in Minneapolis, MN, to Roland and Olga Shepherd. Pam was the middle child between an older brother and younger sister. Pam attended schools in Minneapolis and graduated from West High School. She had colorful competitive accordion career culminating in a performance at Carnegie Hall. Pam was attending the University of Minnesota when JFK called on the youth of America to ask "not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country". Pam joined the Peace Corp in 1963 and found herself soon after in Manila, Philippines. After two years of service, she traveled through Asia and Europe before returning to Minneapolis.Pam was hired as a secretary at Honeywell where she met Don who was also working there. After dating for a year, Don proposed to Pam the night Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, July 20, 1969. Two short months later, Don and Pam married September. 6, before moving to Freeport, IL, with Honeywell.Pam and Don were both hired by Arctic Cat and the Nelson residence was soon set up on Markley Street in Thief River Falls. The family expanded to three with the adoption of Kimber from South Korea in 1976.In 1980, Pam and her family moved to Prior Lake, MN, where she worked for Honeywell again. Pam graduated from Concordia College in 1990 and began a career as a buyer. She bought electronic and mechanical components for Honeywell, Alliant Tech Systems, and CyberOptics. After work Pam would attend Kimber's soccer matches and band concerts, learn Taekwondo, knit, needlepoint, and quilt. Many weekends were spent at a lake cabin with her sister's family.Pam and Don retired to Rollag, MN Valentine's Day of 2007. Pam became an active member of the ladies circle at Rollag Lutheran Church and volunteered at their stand at the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion. She also became an avid quilter and gardener. In 2009 her family expanded again with the addition of Auggie Doggie, a King Charles Cavalier.Pam was first diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 1994. She had chemotherapy and radiation and lived cancer free until April of 2006. She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer on her bones. Pam received various and continuous chemotherapy and radiation until July of 2011 when the cancer had moved into her brain.Pam is preceded in death by her parents, Roland and Olga, brother Gerald, and three uncles. She is survived by her husband Don, daughter Kimber, sister Janet husband Rick, aunt Lillian, uncle Gerald, aunt Carol and many nieces and nephews.She will be missed by her family and friends.In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley or Rollag Lutheran Church.Please visit Pam's CaringBridge site at urlhttp://www.caringbridge.org/visit/pamanelson/url.