Lawrence Weldon Nelson

Funeral Services for Lawrence W. Nelson will be conducted from the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska on Friday, April 22, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Jean Clayton, officiating. Interment will be in the Moses Hill Cemetery in Phelps County, Nebraska.

Lawrence Weldon Nelson, 95 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Monday, April 18, 2011 at the Holdrege Memorial Homes. Lawrence was born October 16, 1915 on the family farm in Phelps County, northwest of Holdrege, the youngest of four children born to Nels and Carolina (Gustafson) Nelson. He received his primary education from District #76 and was graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1933, where he lettered in football, basketball and track.

On April 9, 1939 he was united in marriage to Edith "Edie" Mae Pettett at Bayard, Nebraska. They began their married life on a farm north of Holdrege and remained there until 1973 at which time they moved into Holdrege.

They loved to travel and spent many winters near Phoenix, Arizona and also enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Mexico, Alaska and New Zealand.

Lawrence was actively involved as a 4-H leader and was honored for 45 years of service on the Phelps County Fair Board. He also served on the Westmark Evangelical Free Church board, on Holdrege CO-OP board, and served on the board of directors in several banks. Lawrence was also active with the Holdrege Elks and Kiwanis and was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

He leaves to mourn his passing his four children: Gay Longfellow and her husband, Stan of Kearney, Nebraska, Connie Lane of Holdrege, Carol Johansen of Ord, Nebraska; one son, Dennis Nelson of Holdrege; five grandchildren: Jay Longfellow, Jeff Lane and his wife, Casi, Carrie Christenson and her husband, Cary, Vance Longfellow and his wife, Kimmi, and Andrew Johansen and his wife, Debbie; ten great-grandchildren; and his nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides his wife, his parents and his siblings, Lawrence was preceded in death by two grandsons: Kent Nelson Longfellow and Michael Todd Lane.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Memorials have been established in his memory to the Phelps County 4-H Foundation, Holdrege Memorial Homes and the First United Methodist Church.

Expressions of caring and kindness be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.