Norris Petheram NELSON

NELSON, OSCARSON, PETERSON, HEESCH, MATSON, COUMES, CHRISTIANSON, ROGNEHAUGH, BLEESS, HAWS, MEYER, LARSON, FULGELBERG, LONNEVIK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/3/2016 at 13:52:25

November 9, 1913 --- April 25, 2006

Norris Petheram Nelson, born November 9, 1913 died April 25, 2006 he was 92 Years - 5 Months - 16 Days

Funeral Ceremony was held Sunday, April 30, 2006 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church Belmond, Iowa.

Clergy was Pastor Lowell Halvorson, Organist was Carol Severson, with Soloist Nathan Larson; "I Will Worship You" and the congregational singing was "Precious Lord", "Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior" and "Onward Christian Soldiers."

Casket Bearers were Norris's grandchildren. Interment was at St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery in Belmond. Winter Funeral Home & Cremation Service was in charge of arrangements.

The son of Nickolie and Helen Emelia (Oscarson) Nelson, Norris was born November 9, 1913 in Belmond, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Belmond and attended school in Belmond. He owned and operated a portable feed grinding business prior to his military service. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 1941 and, as a member of the 34th "Red Bull" Division, saw service in Ireland, Tunisia,and Italy during World War II. While on the Anzio Beachhead on May 20, 1944, Norris and one fellow soldier in his division held off an entire battalion of Germans. That feat earned him the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest military honor in the nation. He also earned six overseas bars, an American Defense Service Ribbon, a Good Conduct Ribbon, a European African Middle Eastern Ribbon and a Silver Battle Star. When he returned to the United States, Norris was further honored for his military valor when he was asked to ride as an outstanding war hero in an open-air car with General Mark W. Clark on a 15-mile parade route through Chicago, Illinois. He was discharged from the Army in May 1945.

Norris married Florain Janice Peterson on March 19, 1949 in Badger, Iowa. The couple farmed together in Scarville, Iowa. Norris remained on the farm after his retirement. He moved to the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls in 2002.

He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson, Iowa and the Thompson V.F.W. Post. He had also served on the Winnebago County Extension Service Board. Norris enjoyed reading, politics and music. His Christian faith was the most important thing to him throughout his life.

Norris died Tuesday evening, April 25, 2006 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls. He is survived by his children Norrine and her husband James Heesch of Seymour, Gerald Nelson and his wife Cynthia Matson of Kiester, Minn, Tim Nelson and his wife Linda of Huntington Beach, Calif, Helen and her husband Michel Coumes of Longmont, Col; and Arlyn Nelson and his wife Kris of Fergus Falls, Minn; his grandchildren: Codi and her husband David Christianson and Clint and his wife Andrea Heesch of Seymour; Landon Nelson and Veronica Okokon and Graham Nelson of Minneapolis, Minn, Wade Rognehaugh of Boulder, Col and Sondra Rognehaugh of Longmont, Col; Jessica and her husband Adam Bleess of Rochester, Minn; Matthew Haws of Minneapolis, Minn; and Jacob Haws of St. Paul, Minn; his great grandchildren: Tuff and Colt Christianson and Wyatt, Tell, and Paige Heesch of Seymour and Miles Okokon Nelson of Minneapolis; his brothers: the Rev. Clifford and his wife Elnor Nelson of St. Cloud, Minn and Rueben and his wife Ellie Nelson of Belmond; his sisters: Mildred Meyer of Toledo, Ohio and Esther Larson of Pelican Rapids, Minn; brothers-in-law: John and his wife Marilyn Peterson of Apple Valley, Minn and Paul and his wife Shirley Peterson of Kenyon, Minn; his sisters-in-laws: Clara Nelson of Dent, Minn, and Lyla and her husband James Fulgelberg of Shell Lake, Wis; and by many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Florain on September 24, 1999, son-in-law Aaron Rognehaugh, his brother the Rev. Everett Nelson, his sisters Ruth Lonnevik and Pearl Nelson at birth, and his brothers-in-law Roy Larson, Russell Lonnevik, Alfred Meyer and Gerald Peterson.

Forest City Summit -- Iowa
May 2, 2006