Olga Lorain Nelson

Olga was born on October 18, 1911 in Proctor, MN to Axel and Hulda (Bladh) Eklund.

She attended Merrittt Grade School, Lincoln Junior High and was a member of the first class graduating from the new Denfeld High School in 1928. After graduation, she attended Young and Hursch Business College and worked at Minnesota National Bank in Duluth.

She married William "Bill" Nelson on October 5, 1935.

Olga was a member of Elim Lutheran Church in Duluth her entire life and was active in many of the church organizations including WELCA, Naomi Circle and Fellowship Club.

Olga was a St. Luke's Hospital volunteer in the coffee shop for over 35 years. She enjoyed spending time at her family's cabin, traveling within the United States and visiting relatives in Sweden.

The family would like to thank Spirit Valley Assisted Living, Diamond Willow Arbor Rose Assisted Living and St. Mary's Hospice for their wonderful care over the past few years.

Olga was preceded in death her her husband, Bill, in 1978; and her brother and sister-in-law, Carl and Winnie Eklund.

She is survived by her two daughters, Carol (Gordon) Groseth of Duluth, Barbara (John) Martens of New Hope, four granddaughters, Lori Groseth of Crystal, Becky Groseth of Columbia Heights, Krista (Steve) Hitchcock of Chanhassen, Sara (Shawn) Malone of Robbinsdale, four great-grandchildren; a sister, Lila (Harry) Larson of Rochester, MN and several nieces and a nephew.

A Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. Funeral Service Friday, March 12, 2010 in Elim Lutheran Church. Pastor Jim Hagen officiating. Interment will be in Oneota Cemetery. In Olga's memory, memorials are preferred to the church.

Arrangements are by Bell Brothers Funeral Home, Duluth, MN 1-800-770-5745

~The following is a biography that Olga had written in her own words~

I was born October 18, 1911, at home in Proctor, Minnesota. My family moved to Duluth when I was six months old.

I attended school at Merritt Grade School, Lincoln Junior High, and Denfeld High School. Denfeld was brand new when I attended classes there during my 11th and 12th grades. I spend only a half year in fourth grade and a half year in seventh grade, so I ended up graduating one whole year early.

I was baptised on July 4, 1925, along with Car and Lila in our parents' home. I was confirmed May 9, 1926.

I took piano lessons from age 11 to 15 and taught piano after high school for a while.

After graduation in 1928, I attended Young & Hursch Business College in Duluth for several months until offered a job at Minnesota National Bank in downtown Duluth. I worked there six years until I got married.

I meet my future husband, Bill Nelson, at a family picnic at Pattison Park outside Superior, Wisconsin. My aunt, Anna Carlson, who lived in Two Harbors, knew Bill's parents, the Ernest Nelson's, also from Two Harbors, and invited them along. Bill and I were married on October 5, 1935. We had two children: Carol, born November 29, 1937, and Barbara , born July 9, 1942.

When Bill and I were first married we rented a house at 43rd Avenue West in West Duluth and lived there about one year. Then we purchased a home at 4219 West Fourth Street and lived there for 13 years. In 1950, we moved to 4327 West Fifth Street. I sold that house in 1985 and moved to Faith Haven, a high-rise apartment building at 4901 Grand Avenue and lived in Apartment 613.

When our children were young, we did lots of family activities with Carl and Winnie's family going on picnics, staying at cabins and going on short trips. We'd also go to Minneapolis and Rochester to visit Lila and Harry Larson and their family. When our children were older, we took family trips to the Black Hills, the East Coast, and Glacier National Park. Bill and I took two trips to Sweden, 1968 and 1973.

I attended Elim Lutheran Church all of my life and was also active in many church activities. I also was a St. Luke's Hospital Volunteer in the coffee shop for over 35 years.

I have belonged to a sewing club which we named Equs Plumas for over 50 years.

For several years Bill and I traveled to Texas in February and stayed with Lillie and Harold. I continued going after Bill died in 1978. Afte Lillie died, Harold and I did some traveling together to Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Branson.