Howard Nelson

Howard D. Nelson died May 21, 2017 at Mercer Island, Washington. He was born March 31, 1930, the son of Edwin M. and Anna (Jacobson) Nelson of Devils Lake. While growing up, he attended the Bethel Free Church in Devils Lake.  He graduated from Devils Lake High School in 1948.  He attended Trinity Bible College in Chicago, Illinois, earning an Associate of Arts degree in 1953. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Fresno State College in 1956.  He and Hazel Conors were married on August 10, 1956 in Fresno, California. They moved to Seattle where Howard earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Washington.  Upon graduation in 1960, he won a competition held by the San Francisco Opera Company. After singing with the San Francisco Symphony for the summer, he returned to Trinity Bible College to teach. While teaching at Trinity Bible College, Howard won a place with the Chicago Lyric Opera.  During summers he pursued a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Washington, which he earned in 1967. That year, he and Hazel left for Europe where he sang as principal baritone for the Zurich Opera Company for 30 years. In addition, he made guest appearances with several other opera houses while teaching voice, giving countless concerts and sharing his God-given talent in churches throughout Switzerland and Germany as well as back home in North Dakota during visits to family. In 2006, after Howard retired and he and Hazel moved to Mercer Island, Washington.  With Hazel as his accompanist, Howard continued singing by giving concerts and programs for the residents of their retirement home, Covenant Shores. Howard is survived by his wife Havel, nieces and nephews Roland Ferrell, Lyle Nelson, Phillip Nelson, Mark Nelson, Verna Gowin, Ray Thompson, Norma Thompson, Albert Thompson, Susan Kling, Sheryl Skiba, Carol Nerby and Linda Hanson and several great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Lyle (Elizabeth) Nelson and Robert (Nola) Nelson, sisters Mildred (Elmer) Ferrell, Evelyn (Vernon) Thompson and Edna (Emil) Jensen, niece Margaret Sondeland and nephew Gary Jensen. Graveside Services for Howard will be held on Friday, August 25, 2017 at 2:00 pm beginning at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake with Reverend Lyle Belleque officiating and will proceed to the Devils Lake Cemetery for burial.