Nelson, Alvin (1918-2012)
NELSON, PETERSEN, PETLON, SWENSON, ROSS, GASTON, JUMP, PORTER, FOGDALL, MILLER
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/17/2012 at 17:49:07
Alvin Nelson
January 15, 1918 - November 2, 2012Alvin "slipped from earth to heaven" on November 2, 2012. He often said, "I am among all men most blessed." And, he was a blessing to all who knew him.
On January 15, 1918, Alvin Everett Nelson was born on a farm near Alta, the son of Nels and Agnes (Petersen) Nelson. He attended Highview Consolidated School north of Alta. Having accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior, Alvin was baptized at the Elk Baptist Church where he later became president of the youth group. He also served as a member of the Northern Iowa Danish Baptist Youth Board.
On April 19, 1941, Alvin married Evelyn Jane Petlon. Blessed with two daughters and two sons, they farmed together near Storm Lake. A young farmer following in his father's footsteps, Alvin took on a herd of purebred Duroc hogs as his special project. He served on the Board of Directors of the Fairview Consolidated Schools and became the Clerk of Scott Township, a committee member of the Farmer's Home Administration, and a Sunday School teacher and Treasurer at the Elk Baptist Church.
In 1951, Alvin answered God's call to the ministry. He and Evelyn sold their farming operation and moved to Chicago with their four young children. Alvin entered the Northern Baptist Seminary in January 1952, earning a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1956 and a Master of Divinity degree in 1971. While attending seminary, he and Evelyn operated the student bookstore for four years. Active at the Temple Baptist Church, he served as a Sunday School teacher and Deacon.
Ordained to the Christian ministry in 1956, Alvin served churches in Fredericksburg, Fairfield, and Holdrege, Nebraska, during the next fifteen years. In 1971, he accepted a call to serve in a new ministry role as the Administrator of the Winnebago Baptist Home in Winnebago, Minnesota, where he remained until retiring in 1980. He and Evelyn, then, returned to their roots in Aurelia to enjoy their retirement. In 1993, they moved to Albert Lea to become a part of the Thorne Crest Retirement Community where Alvin continued his ministry by generously volunteering to serve the Thorne Crest community in a variety of ways. Evelyn preceded him in death suddenly in 2001, and on January 11, 2003, Alvin married Ardys K. Swenson, the second love of his life. Alvin enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and competitive corn husking.
Those who preceded him in death include his parents; Evelyn, his faithful and loving wife of sixty years to the day; his two sisters, Ruth (Delmer) Ross and Bernadine (Wayne) Gaston; his two brothers, Woodrow (Irene) Nelson and Floyd Nelson.
Surviving him are Ardys, his loving wife of nine years; his four children: Jim (Nan) Nelson, Jane Ann Nelson, Susan (Ken) Jump, and Frank (Rosemary) Nelson; three step-children: Joan (Bob) Porter, Steve (Bonnie) Fogdall, and Jon Fogdall; nine grandchildren: Tim (Nikki), Eric (Teresa), Christine(Chad), Dan, Cory (Steffani), Amy (Chris), Angela (Richard), Paul (Kaz), and Joel (Ann); nine step-grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; and eleven great step-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Marian Nelson and Gwendolyn Miller; and one brother-in-law, Bob Petlon, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at the Thorne Crest dining room at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 10, 2012, Rev. Jamie Cameron officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be designated to Thorne Crest for use in the chapel. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com .
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