Lowell Allen Nelson

Funeral Services for Lowell A. Nelson will be conducted from the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bertrand, Nebraska on Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. with Reverend Gary Panko, officiating. Internment will be in the Adullum Cemetery, north of Bertrand in Phelps County, Nebraska.

Lowell Allen Nelson, 79 years of age, of Bertrand, passed away on Monday, June 28, 2010 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Lowell was born on June 21, 1931 on a farm northeast of Bertrand in northern Phelps County, the son of Albin and Eva (Renstrom) Nelson. He resided in Phelps County all his life except for a short time when he lived east of Overton in Dawson County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Adullam-Immanuel Lutheran Parish.

Lowell received his primary education in country schools thru 8th grade and graduated from Bertrand Public Schools with the class of 1949. During high school, Lowell was involved in 4-H with livestock and active with all the high school sports and the "Viking" newspaper. In the years to come, Lowell continued his interest in sports by managing and playing with the town team baseball, softball and basketball teams. He pitched for the softball team, competing in state tourneys until he was 50. He also coached the Bertrand-Loomis Legion Baseball teams for several years, taking them to state competition.

Lowell's father died when he was a senior in high school, so he attended school as well as completed the farming, milking and livestock chores. After graduation, Lowell continued with the farm life and in addition worked for various businesses in Bertrand and drove the school bus.

Lowell was united in marriage to Gloria Stehl on February 3, 1957 and to this union four children were born: Melodee Sue, Monica Kaye, Merry Angela and Blake Allen.

He joined the CO-OP elevator in Bertrand in 1959 and later was employed by the Loomis Farmers CO-OP in 1961, where he was the manager from 1967 until 1989. In 1990, Lowell and Gloria moved to Holdrege and retired in 1991, which allowed him more time for his golfing and woodworking. He and Gloria displayed their wares at craft shows for several years. In 1996, they moved to Eaton, Colorado to be near the kids and grandkids for six years until returning to Bertrand.

Lowell was active in the community by serving on the Loomis School Board as president and spearheading a building project at the time. He also served on the Loomis Town Board, the Immanuel Lutheran Church Council and served on the Board of Directors of the Industries Mutual Ins. Co. in Omaha, where he served as Chairman of the Board for 10 years. He was also a member of the Elks and Lions Clubs.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Frances Samuelson and her husband, Nylise; and his father-in-law, Harold Stehl.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Gloria of Bertrand; his four children: Melodee Nelson, Monica Nedler and her husband, Michael, Merry Rybolt and Blake Nelson and his wife, Andrea all of the Denver area; three granddaughters: Brittany and Jennifer Rybolt and Caitlin Nelson all of the Denver area; mother-in-law, Esther Stehl of Bertrand; sister-in-law, Karen Samuelson and her husband, Darryl of Loomis; brother-in-law, Ralph Stehl and his wife, Barb of Bertrand; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand.

A memorial has been established in his 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 Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand is in charge of the arrangements.