Peter Luther Nelson (1866-1946)

NELSON, GAMRATH, HOLLAND, TORGERSON, MOORE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/18/2023 at 15:27:58

From The Slater News May 9, 1946 (page 1)

Funeral Services For P. L. Nelson

Slater's Last Pioneer Business Man Laid to Rest.

Funeral rites for P. L. Nelson, Slater pioneer who died so suddenly on the afternoon of May 1 from a heart attack, were held Saturday afternoon from the Lester Nelson home at 1:30 o'clock and the Bethlehem Lutheran church at 2:00.

Services at the home were brief with scripture reading and prayer by Rev. Onstad who was in charge. The services at the church included scripture reading and prayer, reading of the obituary and the sermon. For his sermon Pastor Onstad took his text from Amos 4:12, "Prepare to Meet Thy God," stressing the importance of all, young and old, to meet their Lord and Maker. He also sang a solo, "Seek the Lord Today." Other musical numbers included a vocal duet, "One Sweetly Solemn Thought," sung by Mrs. M. S. Heggen and Mrs. A. L. Peterson and vocal solo, "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say," by Emma Tweet. Mrs. Harold Croft was at the organ.

There were many lovely floral tributes, also gifts to the missions and other church activities in memory of Mr. Nelson. Mrs. Clarence Ryg and Mrs. Edgar Accola arranged the flowers.

Pallbearers were Dr. R. G. Nott, Andrew Maland, Charley Skortman, Stanley Mosey, Martin Helland and A. L. Peterson. Burial was made in the family lot in the Bethlehem cemetery. Rev. Onstad read the committal service.

Obituary.

Peter Luther Nelson was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Aug. 22, 1866. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and lived in the community of his birth till a young man when he came to America at the age of 17 years. On his arrival here he located in Sheldahl. In his native land he had learned the butcher trade, working for his father. As a result of his experiences he secured employment in a butcher shop operated by his step-brother, Lew Gamrath.

While thus engaged he returned to his native land to visit relatives and friends he had left behind. His oldest sister lived in Copenhagen. His mother died while he was a young lad. His father remarried and his brother moved to Sidney, Australia.

When the town of Slater was founded he established a meat market of his own in which he labored long and diligently for more than 50 years, serving the public, early and late.

In April, 1945, he was forced to quit business, because of ill health and his advanced age. His whole life was devoted to serving other he was always busy. Retiring from active work was not his liking and he was never satisfied to be idle and it it thought this one thing shortened his life--that it contributed to his sudden death on May 1 and the age of 79 years, 8 months and 9 days.

Mr. Nelson had a wide acquaintance and many friends--friends who are today mourning his passing. He was Slater's last pioneer business man who moved from Sheldahl when Slater was founded.

From the early days of his business career Mr. Nelson guided his life along the lines of straight-forward, honorable business methods, a course that brought him success in a good measure. He was on the square with everybody. For years and years he was free with money and contributed liberally to the church and other worth-while activities. In him the Salvation army had a good friend; so did the children's homes.

Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Christina Holland, Oct. 6, 1896. To them three children were born: Lester Nelson of Slater; Mrs. Virginia Torgerson of Peoria, Ill., and Mrs. Leona Moore of Gary, Ind. They all survive him as do also seven grandchildren and a host of friends. His wife died Dec. 27, 1931.