Paul Nelson

Paul Nelson, age 56 of Hills, MN died Tuesday, August 10, 2010 surrounded by family at his home near Hills, MN. Memorial services will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, Aug. 14th at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills, MN, Pastor Ron Nichols officiating. Burial will follow at the Flowerfield Cemetery near Hills. Visitation will be Friday, Aug. 13th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills. Paul Freddy Frederick Nelson, 56, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2010 with his family at his side on his farm home near Hills, MN, after an 18 month adventure with kidney cancer. Paul was born the youngest of five children on November 29, 1953 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Earl and Pearl (Skovgaard) Nelson. He attended Hills-Beaver Creek School through his freshman year. He then transferred and graduated high school from the University of Minnesota " Waseca / Southern School of Agriculture in 1971. He attended the University of Minnesota, Morris, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, and graduated from Sioux Falls College in 1986. On March 24, 1979 Paul married Vicki Kolbeck at St. Marys Church in Salem, SD. They had two sons Christopher Nelson (Elizabeth) and Patrick Nelson. Paul farmed corn and soybeans and raised sheep, chicken, and pigs at his family farm near Hills, MN. He also owned a construction business, Bravo Construction, with his brother David. He then worked as a steelworker for over 20 years for Wheeler Tank Manufacturing in Sioux Falls, SD. Paul loved his family, neighbors, co-workers, and friends dearly. He loved nature, animals, the outdoors, and his pets. He was an avid fisherman and fished halibut, salmon, walleye, northern pike, catfish, sunfish, trout, and the occasional bullhead. He enjoyed following the Iditarod Dogsled Race in Alaska as he has a nephew and friend who compete in the race. He was a clever handyman who was able to fix or build nearly anything. He particularly loved creating things out of steel and metal. He usually brought gifts of candy or toys wherever he went. He enjoyed sharing ideas, stories, and conversation. Paul was a lifelong member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills, MN. He served as a deacon and trustee, as well as a Luther League member and advisor with which he took several trips to the boundary waters of northern Minnesota. He also ushered at the Tuff Chapel. Paul is survived by his wife Vicki Nelson; his sons Christopher (Elizabeth) Nelson of Byron, MN, and Patrick Nelson of Minneapolis, MN; brother David (Vicki) Nelson of Denver, CO; sisters Marjorie Carlson of Slayton, MN, Barbara Sikkink of Edina, MN, Carol (Warren) Krause of Buffalo, MN; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Pearl Nelson; brothers-in-law Dennis Carlson and Gene Sikkink; and sister-in-law Jacki Shobe.