Bertel Nelson

Bertel "Bert" Nelson died Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at Bethany Nursing Home, where he had been a resident since January, 2008. He was born July 13, 1922 in Portland, ND, to Algot and Ella Nelson. He lived on farms near Portland, ND, and moved to a farm near Clifford, ND, in 1936. He worked with his father and brother on the family farm for many years. He married Dorene Benting of Hillsboro, ND, on October 15, 1950. They lived on the same family farm and had five children. While living near Clifford, he served the community and his church on various boards, and frequently volunteered to help where there was a need. In 1969, he and his family moved to Fargo, ND. He was proud to provide more opportunity for his children and later, to see all five earn college degrees. He was employed by Overhead Door Co. of Fargo, installing and servicing industrial garage doors from 1969, until he retired in December 1984. He stayed retired for two years, finding people to help and projects to do. In 1986, he was employed by Ray Wolfer of rural Argusville, ND, doing farm work. He continued to work for Ray, and also worked with Larry Gangnes of rurual Argusville, until his final retirement in the fall of 1999, when a heart bypass surgery prevented him from continuing farm work. He loved farming and livestock. He recalled first driving work horses on the family farm at six years old. He and his father farmed with horses for several years and transitioned to farming with tractors. They also built a herd of registered purebred Brown Swiss milk cattle, which he continued to refine until 1968. When he began working for Ray, he was very happy to return to farming. He began farming with horses in the late 1920s and ended farming with four wheel-drive tractors in 1999. Of all the farm work, he most enjoyed harvest time, and bringing in the results of the season's efforts. He is survived by two sisters, Alice Reed of Fargo, and Myrna (Bud) Holkesvig of Mayville, ND; five children, Gary Nelson of Hankinson, ND, Joyce (Joe) Avila of Bloomingdale, IL, Lynda Nelson of Fargo, Dan (Gail) Nelson of Fargo, and Denese (Ron) Odegaard of Fargo; four granddaughers; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Richard Nelson of Aitkin, MN. Memorial Service: Saturday, June 27, 2009, at 2:00 PM, at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND. Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Hillsboro, ND.