Helen Nelson

Funeral Services for Helen Margaret Nelson, of Albert Lea, will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, October 8, 2012 at Ascension Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Reverend Mark Boorsma will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery, Albert Lea. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, and one hour before the service at the church. Helen died on Thursday, October 4, 2012 at St. John's Lutheran Home. She was 94. Helen was born on December 8, 1917, in Albert Lea, the daughter of Jens and Marie (Jensen) Levisen. She graduated from Albert Lea High School with the class of 1937.
She married Norval Nelson on June 1, 1939. Together Helen and Norval raised their family and farmed, first in the Freeborn area, and then north of Albert Lea since 1942. Helen was baptized, confirmed, and married at Trinity Lutheran Church. She was currently a member of Ascension Lutheran Church. Helen enjoyed being active in church activities which included
bible studies, Ladies Aid, quilting and in earlier years teaching Sunday School. She always enjoyed her neighborhood birthday club gatherings. She and Norval enjoyed spending their winters in Arizona for 31 years. In 1980, Helen and Norval took a trip to Norway and Denmark, the lands of their forefathers. They met many cousins and relatives, it was truly a memorable experience. Helen is survived by her beloved husband of 73 years, Norval, two children: Richard (Karen) Nelson and Carolyn (Dean) Wangen all of Albert Lea; grandchildren: Roger (Kathy) Nelson of Oakland, IA, Gary (Anne) Nelson of Hutchinson, MN, Jeff (Kim) Nelson of Albert Lea, Todd (Tina) Wangen of Elgin, MN, Travis (Teresa) Wangen of Ellendale, MN, and Trent Wangen of Hartland, MN; great grandchildren: Joshua Nelson, Kirsten Nelson, Alec Nelson, Jenna Nelson, Andrew Nelson, Adam Nelson, Sydney Nelson, Zachary Wangen, Spencer Wangen, Christian Wangen, Grace Wangen, Mason Wangen;
brothers: Arnold (Erma) Levisen of Albert Lea and Myron (Pat) Levisen of Albert Lea, sisters-in-law Maurine Levisen and Ruth "Dolly" Levisen both of Albert Lea, LaVerne Nelson of Afton, MN; brothers-in-law Walter Nelson of CA and Orville Wittmer of Emerald, WI, many nieces, nephews, and cousins in Denmark and Norway. She was preceded in death by her parents, twin sons in infancy; sisters: Doris in infancy and Lillian Bro and her husband Ingward, brothers: Thorvald Levisen and his wife Irine, Donald Levisen and his wife Lorraine, Earl Levisen and Paul Levisen; sister-in-law Eleanor Wittmer; brothers-in-law Joy and Kermit Nelson. Helen 's life centered on faith and family. She always put other others first, and so enjoyed keeping up on the lives of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.