Donovon Nelson

Donovon Nelson passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 19 at the age of 88 at home with his wife by his side and under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. The son of Nelmer and Hilda (Danielson) Nelson, Donovon was born on December 5, 1922 in Moorhead. He graduated from Moorhead High School in 1940 and Moorhead State Teachers College. He taught and coached in Thief River Falls, MN and Pine River, MN before joining the Fargo Public Schools in 1948. Donovon taught math and coached at Horace Mann, then after receiving his masters degree from the University of Idaho was assistant principal and guidance counselor at Ben Franklin Junior High. In 1965 he was named principal at Clara Barton Elementary and in 1967 also assumed the duties of principal at Lincoln Elementary. One of his favorite activities was opening the gym at Clara Barton on Saturday mornings during the school year for neighborhood boys. Former teachers have fond memories of the yearly Christmas parties he and Mary hosted in their homes. This tradition continued for many years, even after his retirement in 1985. Following his retirement he was elected to the Fargo School Board and served three terms, the last year as President. He was a University Supervisor of Student Teaching for Valley City State University, Mary University-Bismarck and Minot State University, and served as a college supervisor for Student Teaching at Concordia College. He also served as the interim principal for Grace Lutheran School. One of his favorite retirement “jobs” was reading to first grade classes in Fargo and West Fargo. At one time he read to 9 different classrooms every week. Donovon was passionate about his former students, and loved having them come up to share memories with him during his later years. He married Betty Kercher in 1947, and together they had three children. In 1976 he married Mary Herrick Schultz. He always said he was privileged to be able to raise two families. He loved attending children and grandchildren’s sporting events. He was very proud of Mary’s writing talent, providing both inspiration and encouragement when she decided to publish her writings and recipes. He enjoyed traveling with Mary, and spent many winters in Palm Springs, CA. Summers were spent in the Detroit Lakes area where he loved to sail. An avid golfer, Donovon played every weekend for over 18 years with the same group in Detroit Lakes. Donovon was also active in the community. For many summers he was the Director of Teacher Aide Workshops for the United Tribes of North Dakota. He was a member of the North Dakota School Board Association, National Elementary Principals Association, North Dakota Elementary Association, and Phi Delta Kappa. He was a lifetime member of the National Education Association. He served on the North Dakota state NCATE team which evaluated State Colleges and Universities. Locally he served on the Fargo Dollars for Scholars Board, Dakota Medical Foundation Advisory Board, Moorhead State University Foundation Board and Alumni Board, President of YMCA of Cass and Clay, and United Way division leader. He was named the Lake Agassiz Kiwanis Educator of the Year in 1971. Donovon is survived by his wife, Mary; his sister, Mae Bolger; brother-in-law, Don Juberg; two sons: Brock (Martha) Nelson, Jeff (Debbie) Nelson; one daughter: Jill Wippern; stepson: Ron Schultz; and stepdaughters: Mary (Russ) Kuzel, Kathy (Matt) Magness, and Karen Dalton. He is also survived by seventeen grandchildren: Thor (Gretchen), Haakon (Marit), Kolbjorn (Nissa), Berit, Leigh, Laruen and Gordon Nelson; Joscelyn Wippern; Brandee (Kraig) Finwall, Erin (Jason) Lyons, Christian (Erin) Sorensen, Alex Kuzel, Danielle, Michelle and Eric Schultz, Jack Magness and Ellie Dalton; and eight great-grandchildren. Donovon will also be missed by Muffin, his faithful companion. He is preceded in death by his parents and four sisters