Nelson, Selma Jeanette (Rasmussen) -- 1919 - 2009

NELSON, RASMUSSEN, ROSENDAHL, BISCHEL, WALKER, RAMSEY, BRYNSAAS, GROTEGUT, SUNDBY

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/11/2012 at 17:23:41

Selma Nelson, age 89, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, at her home following a sudden illness.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2009, at the Decorah Lutheran Church, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Bryan Robertson and Rev. Alan Vik officiating. Burial will be in the Phelps Cemetery, Decorah, Iowa.

Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Saturday morning.

Selma Jeanette (Rasmussen) Nelson was born on March 25, 1919, on the family farm in Canoe Township, the daughter of Jens and Stella (Rosendahl) Rasmussen. Selma was baptized and confirmed at the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church. She attended rural country school and graduated from Decorah High School in 1938. Selma worked at the ASCS office in Decorah and then moved to Chicago, IL, where she worked for Montgomery Ward. Selma was married on September 16, 1945, to Russell Nelson at the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church. They lived in Chicago for ten years and Selma continued to work for Montgomery Ward. They moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where Selma still worked for Montgomery Ward and for Spiegel Boiler Works. They moved to Decorah in 1957, where Selma and Russell operated the Round the Clock Laundromat for eighteen years. Selma was an active member of the Decorah Lutheran Church, where she centered her life around. She enjoyed and helped in many ways over the years. She enjoyed quilting and embroidering and having coffee at 10:30 a.m. at McDonalds with the girls.

Selma’s survivors include her husband: Russell Nelson, Decorah, IA. One daughter: Roxanne (Kevin) Bischel, Spillville, IA. One granddaughter: Rachel (Charlie) Walker, Nevada, IA. One grandson: Ryan Ramsey, Decorah, IA. One great grandson: Dexter Walker. One sister: Mae Brynsaas, Decorah, IA and one brother: Ervin Rasmussen, Decorah, IA. One brother-in-law: Clarence (Dorothy) Nelson, Chicago, IL. Two sisters-in-law: Hazel Grotegut, Decorah, IA and Stella Nelson, Freeport, IL, along with many nieces and nephews.

Selma was preceded in death by her parents: Jens and Stella Rasmussen. One sister: Henrietta (Casper) Sundby. Four brothers: Ray (Grace) Rasmussen, Vernon (Lylas) Rasmussen, Marlyn Rasmussen and Lester (Marguerite) Rasmussen. One sister-in-law: Arlene Rasmussen. Two brothers-in-law: Norman Brynsaas and Lloyd Nelson.

Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database

Phelps Cemetery
 

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