Lois M. Nelson

Memorial Services for Lois M. Nelson will be conducted from the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Dale Lambert, officiating. Private family inurnment will be held at the Moses Hill Cemetery in Phelps County, Nebraska.

Lois Margaret Nelson, 84 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Friday, October 30, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. Lois was born on her mother's 29th birthday, January 21, 1925, on the family farm one mile west of Huntley in Harlan County, Nebraska. She was the third of four children born to Marshal H. and Mildred L. (Rutan) Richman.

Lois received her education from Huntley, graduating from Huntley High School with the class of 1942. Following her graduation, she was employed by the Harlan County Clerk of the District Court, and then went to work for the ASCS office in Alma, Nebraska. In 1943, Lois went to work for the Leo Daly Co. in Holdrege, contractors for the Atlanta P.O.W. Camp. And in the years to come, both her and her husband worked at the P.O.W. Camp.

On December 7, 1943, she was united in marriage to Byron E. Nelson and to this union two children: Patricia and Edward were born. The family engaged in farming, living just west of Holdrege from 1949 until 1963. They moved into Holdrege in 1963, after Byron started his own construction company, and continued to farm as well.

Lois and Byron have been members of the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege for over 50 years. The couple celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary on December 7, 2008.

In 1962, Mrs. Nelson became the first woman employee of Artistic Woven Labels when they started operations in Holdrege, and was the first woman card cutter in the United States. Lois retired from Artistic in 1988. She was a 4-H leader, a Red Cross volunteer, a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, a 50 year member of the Concordia Chapter of the Eastern Star and held offices as long as her health permitted. She served on the Extension Board in Phelps County and was the Mother Advisor and member of the Advisory Board of the Order of Rainbow for Girls.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters: Alice Decker and her husband, John, Isla Hanson and her husband, Roger; two half-brothers: Cletis "Sam" Richman and his wife, Eva Dayle and William "Bill" Richman and his wife, Elaine.

She leaves to mourn her passing her husband, Byron of Holdrege; two children: Ed Nelson of Thornton, Colorado and Pat Brand and her husband, Roger of Hastings, Nebraska; three grandchildren: Brian Nelson and his wife, Leslie of Thornton, Michelle (Brand) Murrell and Deanna Brand both of Hastings; four great-grandchildren: Taya, Jacob, Garrett and Gavin; one brother, Harvey Richman and his wife, Zella of Alma; two sisters-in-law: Dollie Kohut and Mary Lou Nelson both of Holdrege; and a host of special nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Memorial book signing will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in her memory and will be designated at a later date.

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

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