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Family makes plea for justice

By Lori Ehde
Carrie Nelson's favorite color was orange, and her friends and family continue to honor her memory this week by wearing orange ribbons.

Carrie's father, Stan Nelson, Hills, wore an orange ribbon to Tuesday's press conference at the Law Enforcement Center in Luverne.

He told the Star Herald after the conference that he believes his daughter has joined the angels in heaven.

"I know it," he said. "Just when I think I'm falling apart, I can feel her spirit holding me up."

He said he could feel her presence when he was choosing her gravesite in Flowerfield Cemetery near Hills. "A Baltimore oriole, with its orange color, was out there singing in a tree, and I could feel her presence."

The orange ribbons were made available at Luverne High School and at her funeral, which drew nearly 600 people to Grace Lutheran Church Friday.

Her mother, Nan (Karr) Kaufenberg, said she appreciated Lowell Berg's funeral message, which reminded everyone of the power of love over evil.

He drew the connection between Carrie's life, which was filled with love and happiness, and the life of Jesus, who was also murdered.

Nelson had attended Berg's church, Bethlehem Lutheran in Hills, for much of her life.

Kaufenberg said she doesn't worry that rumors and speculation surrounding the murder investigation will mar her daughter's name.

"She was such an honest, good person," she said Tuesday. "The kids have even told us how they looked up to her and wanted to be like her."

Nelson's fiancŽ, Mike Kellen, Sioux Falls, said he is also unaffected by local speculation on the case.

"I just blow it off and let the investigators take care of it," he said Tuesday.

He said they hadn't been officially engaged but were planning to be married in a year or two. "I just still can't believe she's gone," he said.

Gov. Jesse Ventura ordered all flags at state government buildings to be flown at half-staff Friday in Nelson's honor.

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