Opal Nelson, 86, Hills, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. Services were Friday, Feb. 18, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. The Rev. Lowell Berg officiated. Burial was in Bethlehem Church Cemetery, Hills.Opal Iola Rye was born to Gullick and Emma (Thompson) Rye on Aug. 13, 1918, in Porter. When she was eight years old, her family moved to the Valley Springs, S.D., area where she attended grade school. Later they moved to a farm west of Hills. She graduated from Hills High School in 1936. After graduation she stayed home to help farm and care for her father and younger siblings. She married Elmer F. Nelson on June 15, 1950, at the Rye farm. They lived on the Nelson home farm near Valley Springs for a year before moving to a farm near Hills. They purchased their own farm in 1959 and lived there until moving to Hills in 1979. Mr. Nelson died Feb. 20, 2000. She moved to Tuff Village in September 2001 and to Tuff Memorial Home in November 2002.Mrs. Nelson was a long-time member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. She was involved with the church women’s group and various church circles. She loved gardening and growing flowers, especially roses and African violets. She enjoyed knitting and sewing, word search activities, picture puzzles, reading and playing cards with her family. She also enjoyed the outdoors and family gatherings. Survivors include two children, Roger (Barbara) Nelson, Mankato, and Carol (Art) Ehde, Luverne; one daughter-in-law, Marilyn Nelson, Hills; five grandchildren, Scott (Lori) Ehde, Luverne, Mark (Michele) Nelson, Marie (Dan) LaRock, all of Hills, Ryan Nelson and Todd Nelson, both of Mankato; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Glen Rye, Sun City, Ariz., and Ray (Sandy) Rye, Eau Claire, Wis.; one sister, Vivian (Donald) Helgeson, Hines; and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Nelson was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one son, Duane Nelson, one granddaughter, Pamela Lais, one brother, Norris Rye, two sisters, Eldora Bakk and Beverly Nerison, and three siblings in infancy. Roste Funeral Home, Hills, was in charge of arrangements.