Eleanor Olivia Nelson

Eleanor O. (Haukeness) Nelson, aged 95 years was born June 18, 1922 in Fortuna, North Dakota to Rev. Ole Haukeness and Ella (Norum) Haukeness and passed away March 5, 2018 at Serenity Living Solutions in Sebeka, Minnesota. After high school, Eleanor enrolled in Augsburg College but had to leave after one year due to illness. She later attended a school of nursing. In 1942, the family moved to Sebeka where her father answered a call to serve four Lutheran Churches in the Sebeka area. It was here that she met and in 1947 married a local farmer, Russell S. Nelson. Eleanor was very active in the church. She was active in the Ladies Aid and served  as organist for many years. She also found time to volunteer as a Pink Lady at the Wadena Hospital. After marriage she worked a short time at the Sebeka Creamery and later at the Sebeka Drug Store. Eleanor daily did the crossword puzzle and kept busy knitting, sewing, crocheting, painting and making baby blankets. She was also an avid sports fan and watched many events in person and on TV. She is survived by her son Gregory and wife Tricia of Sebeka; Mike and Holly Nelson and children: Connor, Cole, Carly and Chloe of Richmond; Eric and Heidi Nelson and children: MacKenzie, Hudson and Griffin of Sebeka; Shannon and Julie Humbert and children: Brock, Luke and Lily of Cold Spring; Nathan and Jen Humbert and children: Sara, Emma and Zac of Cold Spring; and Sunny and Craig Hesse and children: Macey, Madyson and Mylie of Cold Spring. Eleanor fondly referred to these great-grandchildren as her bonus babies, and her brother-in-law Jim Ranck. Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; husband Russell; daughter Patricia; daughter-in-law Shirley Nelson; sister Helen; sister Sylvia and brother-in-law Roy Waggoner; brother Stanley and brother-in-law Joel and Mildred Nelson. Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Sebeka. Friends may call at the Wevley Funeral Home in Sebeka from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20 and one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment services will be held at the Paddock Bethel Cemetery at a later date.