DENNIS NELSON

Dennis R. Nelson, 85 of Crary, ND passed away peacefully at his home, in the loving care of his family and Altru Hospice on Friday, December 2, 2016. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Reverend Tom Westcott officiating. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 12:00 noon until time of service. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Burial will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan, ND on Friday, December 9, 2016. Dennis was born on September 20, 1931, in Hallock, MN, the son of Albert and Cecilia (Swanson) Nelson. He was the third of 4 boys. He graduated from Gilby High School in 1949. He served in the Army from 1952-1954 and in the ND National Guard until his retirement in 1991. He obtained an Education Degree from Mayville State University and later obtained his Masters in Administration from UND. He was in education for over 40 years at Mountain Lake, MN and Walhalla, Hillsboro, Fort Yates, Crary and Fort Totten, ND. He was married to Elizabeth Ann (Anderson) Nelson on April 12, 1963, in Hendrum, MN. Dennis is survived by his wife Liz, children: Jessica (Steve) Pew, AZ; Andrew (Elizabeth) Nelson, Devils Lake, Matt (Linnea)Nelson, CA, Beth (Matt) Wells, WI, Melissa Nelson TX, and Andrea Nelson, AZ; brother Lowell (Marion) Nelson, Grand Forks; sisters-in-Law Dean Nelson,(Alvin) MT and Sharon Nelson (Harris) of Niagara, ND; 16 grandchildren Daishawn, Arieanna and Elicia who were adopted by him and Kylee, Jordan, Kenan, Yazuanie, Dennis, Madison, Lauren, Aneisha, Michael, Izhavel, Ava, Sofia and Maya; 4 great-grandchildren Austen, Hannah, D’Leon and Silas; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Alvin and Harris.