Dorothy Leona Nelson of Ellendale, MN, died Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at the Homestead Hospice in Owatonna, MN. Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Dorothy was born July 1, 1913 in Linn County Iowa, the daughter of Lafayette and Irene (Madison) Cress. The family moved to Minnesota to a farm Northeast of Albert Lea in 1914. In 1918 they moved to a farm west of Geneva, MN. She attended country school in rural Ellendale. Dorothy was united in marriage to Iver Larson on December 28, 1934 by the Justice of the Peace in Albert Lea, MN. Three children were born, Warren, Mary and Roger. Iver died in 1952. Dorothy was then married to Henry Nelson at the Lutheran Church in Geneva, MN. Henry died in 1988.
Dorothy was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Ellendale, MN. She was a homemaker all of her life taking care of her parents and family. She loved gardening and her many fruit trees or could always been found reading her favorite books. She had a very fine memory for family and events throughout her life.
Dorothy is survived by her children; Roger and his wife Joyce of Ellendale, MN, Mary Sullivan of Emmons, MN, daughter in law Thelma Shearer of St Augustine, FL. There are 11 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. One sister survives; Delores Pickens of Ponca City, OK, brother in law Donald Wilker of Owatonna, MN, sister in law Arlene Larson of Camus, WA, and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husbands Iver and Henry, son Warren, son in law Robert Sullivan, nephew Dennis Wilker, four brothers and one sister.