Clara Lauretta (Haugrud) Nelson (1920-2009)

NELSON, HAUGRUD, SUNDSTROM, HAARSTICK, THORESEN, ZUMBOLO, SIMMONS, ALSAGER, ROBLEY

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 7/21/2009 at 08:18:44

THE STORY CITY HERALD, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, July 8, 2009.

Clara Lauretta (Haugrud) Nelson, age 88, of Perham, Minnesota, was called to her heavenly home on Monday, June 29, 2009, at the Perham Memorial Hospital and Home. Funeral services were held Friday, July 3, 2009, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, Perham, with Pastor Phil Holtan officiating. Burial followed in Grove Lake Cemetery, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. Visitation was held Thursday, July 2, at Calvary Lutheran Church from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation continued one hour prior to the funeral at the church.

Clara was born July 4, 1920, to Knute and Johanna (Sundstrom) Haugrud on the Haugrud homestead farm north of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. She attended a country school and graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1939. That fall she enrolled at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and graduated from there in 1941.

While attending, LBI, Clara met Everett Nickolie Nelson of Belmond, Iowa. She and Everett were married on August 30, 1942, at Grove Lake Lutheran Church. After Everett's graduation from Luther Seminary in 1945, they moved to Ephraim, Wisconsin, where Everett served his first parish. They also lived in Seneca, Illinois, Wessington, South Dakota, Kenyon, Minnesota, and Roland, Iowa.

She was active in many church organizations and ministries including WELCA, bible studies, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Church Release Time Classes. Clara also enjoyed making church quilts and banners for many years. She worked as a nursing assistant at Bethany Manor in Story City, and as a school cook in Roland. Clara loved to entertain, cook, and bake. She was also an accomplished seamstress.

Clara and Everett enjoyed retirement years at their lake home on West McDonald Lake (Dent, Perham area) moving there in 1984. Family gatherings were a highlight for them and Clara especially liked preparing meals for her family. Clara will be remembered fondly as a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. She dedicated her life to Christian values and faith and she was an inspiration to her family and friends.

Clara is survived by four children, Jonathan (Jill) Nelson, Hugo, Minnesota; Paul (Kathy) Nelson, Mason City; Sharon (Daryl) Haarstick, Vergas, Minnesota; and Mary (Dave) Thoresen, Lake Wales, Florida; 10 grandchildren, Stephanie (Brian) Zumbolo; Matthew (Kenza) Nelson; Kristin Nelson; Priya, Shristi, and Jonathan Thoresen; Kimberly (Chris) Simmons; and Jeffrey (fiance Cheryl), Mark, and Thomas Haarstick; four great-grandchildren, William, Isabella, and Even Zumbolo, and Ellowyn Simmons; two sisters, Linda Alsager and Mildred Robley; and two brothers, Milton Haugrud and Arlan (Delores) Haugrud.

Preceding Clara in death are her parents; loving husband, Everett; sister, Kathleen Haugrud; brother, James Haugrud; sisters-in-law, Velma Haugrud and Marlene Haugrud; and brothers-in-law, Delman Alsager and Douglas Robley.

Online tributes may be posted on www.schoenebergerfuneralhome.com.