Allan Nelson, 90, Northfield, died Jan. 20, 2020, at Evergreen Lodge of the Northfield Retirement Community after a prolonged struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Northfield, with visitation one hour prior to the service.
Allan Orvin Peter Nelson was born on Oct. 12, 1929, on the family farm in Rosehill Township, rural Westbrook, to Otto and Oline (Kaste) Nelson.
He graduated from Westbrook High School in 1947 and, after completing a degree at the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture, started farming with his father and uncles.
In the fall of 1952 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Korea as a chaplain’s assistant until he was honorably discharged in 1954. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in English at St. Olaf College, Northfield, in 1958 and a Master of Divinity Degree at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, in 1961.
He married Imogene Boyum on June 25, 1960, at Arendahl Lutheran Church, rural Peterson, and following his ordination to the ministry on June 25, 1961, they moved to Lake Crystal where he was pastor of Zion Lutheran Church.
In 1969 he returned to the University of Minnesota for a master’s degree in American studies. He served as a Lutheran pastor at Our Savior’s in Kiester, Grace in Luverne, First Lutheran in Valley Springs, South Dakota, and Palisade in rural Rock County near Garretson until his retirement in 1995.
He particularly enjoyed rural ministry and volunteered on many community and church-related boards. After retiring to Northfield, he served as a part-time visitation pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Faribault for 14 years.
Allan liked meeting and interacting with people and was proud of his Norwegian and Danish heritage. He enjoyed music — especially singing and playing his clarinet and accordion, travel, reading, downhill skiing and time with his family.
His early years on the farm instilled in him a sense of self-reliance, an interest in tractors and cars and the ability to fix almost anything. As a young adult he was active in 4-H and Luther League.
In retirement he and Imogene enjoyed international travel and time at the farm, planting a large garden and sharing the produce with the food shelf, friends and neighbors.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Imogene; daughters Kirsten (Jeffrey) Johnson, Sudbury, Massachusetts, Berit (Jeffrey) Schmidt of St. Paul, and Sigrid (Daniel) Schonebaum, Faribault; grandchildren Matthew Johnson, St. Paul, Nathaniel Johnson, Boston, Otto and Anna Schmidt, both of St. Paul, and Marta and Henry Schonebaum, both of Faribault; brother Glenn (Jane Borelli) Nelson, Decorah, Iowa; brother-in-law Kenley Boyum, Plymouth; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law Goodwin and Andrew Boyum.
Memorials are preferred to St. Olaf College, St. John’s Music Fund or the Evergreen Lodge at the Northfield Retirement Community.
Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home, www.northfieldfuneral.com
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