Sister Mary Prudentia Nelson

She was the second child in a family of four girls and 2 boys raised on a dairy farm in Labette County. While her education began in a country school, a subsequent move to a farm near Humboldt, KS allowed her to complete her elementary and high school. During those years she was heavily involved in 4-H and indeed was even the temporary 4-H county agent for Allen County for a time. After high school she attended Iola Jr. College for a year then taught for 3 years in DeWitt and Humboldt before returning to K-State on a 4-H scholarship.

In September 1948 she entered the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph in Wichita, making final profession in 1954. She taught in both public and parish schools in Kansas but her longest tenure was at Colgan High School in Pittsburg, KS from 1969-1993 where she taught a variety of Home Economics classes along with Religion, Health and Biology. Even as a semi-retired teacher beginning in 1993, when she moved to Mt. St. Mary’s Convent in Wichita, she taught English as a Second Language (ESL), GED classes, tutoring, teaching religion and being involved with Immigration and Refugee Services.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Leona Nelson and Margaret Hess and one brother James Nelson. Survivors include her sister Anna Ford, brother Robert Nelson and numerous nieces and nephews.

Homecoming will be Tuesday, April 10 at 3:00 p.m. followed by the wake service at 6:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian burial will be Wednesday, April 11 at 10:30 a.m. all at Mt. St. Mary’s Convent, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218.

Memorial contributions in her name may be made to Dear Neighbor Ministries, StepStone, or to the Retirement Fund of the Sisters of St. Joseph, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218.