William R. Nelson, 87, a lifelong Karlstad area farmer passed away at Valley Eldercare in Grand Forks, North Dakota on Wednesday, May 23, 2018.

William Robert Nelson was born September 5, 1930 in Drayton, North Dakota to William A. and Dagny (Hansen) Nelson.  He grew up on the family farm in Springbrook Township of Kittson County.  Bill attended country school in Springbrook Township and graduated from Karlstad High School in 1948.  On November 3, 1951 he was united in marriage to Maxine Mae Moritz at Jupiter Mission Church rural Kennedy, Minnesota.  Maxine passed away in 1985.  Bill moved from the family farm in November of 2015 and settled in Karlstad.  He was a member of the Evangelical Mission Covenant Church in Kennedy. Bill served on the Springbrook Township Board and other farm related boards. He was an avid fisherman and hunter, purchasing a deer hunting license every year for over 70 years.

He is survived by his children; Robert (Susanne) Nelson, Moorhead, MN, Becky (Jerry) Rude, Crookston, MN and Laurie (LeRoy) Hougard, Stephen, MN;  12 grandchildren, Darin (Heather) Nelson, Ryan (Suzy) Nelson, Kimberly (Chris) Savageau, Joshua (Natalie) Rude, Kristen (Tom) Jansen, Alissa (Noah) Hormann, Micah (Cassie) Rude, Erica Hougard, Peter Hougard (Jessica Holleman), Anthony Nelson, Jami Olson and Ashlee (Ryan) Anderson; 28 great grandchildren; a brother, Allan (Sharon) Nelson, West Fargo, ND; a sister-in-law, Jean Somers, Maple Grove, MN; special friend, Eva Bernard, Karlstad; and nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine (1985); a son, Bradley Nelson (2018); parents, William (1984) and Dagny (1981); a granddaughter, Sarina Kaye Rude (1983); brothers, Donald (2003) and James (2006); a sister, June Nelson (2015); and his mother-in-law, Alma Moritz (1994).

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. in the Evangelical Mission Covenant Church at Kennedy, MN.  Interment will be in Jupiter Mission Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Austin Funeral Chapel in Hallock, MN on Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00. In lieu of flowers, gifts to Jupiter Cemetery Fund are appreciated.