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Elwood R. Nelson, 99, of Fargo
Published 9:44am Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Updated 11:45am Wednesday, January 25, 2012Elwood Nelson, formerly of Milnor, N.D., died peacefully Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, with his family by his side at Banner Baywood Hospital in Mesa, Ariz., where he had been a winter resident for many years.
Elwood was born Dec. 30, 1912, in Kidder, S.D., and was the eldest son of Elmer and Martha (Dahlin) Nelson.
Elwood grew up on the family farm near Kidder, attended rural country school and graduated from Kidder High School in 1930, where he was active in sports, debate and choir.
He attended the North Dakota Agricultural College in Fargo, ND. While attending college during the Great Depression, his hometown bank failed and he no longer had the money to pay for college.
He returned home to work the family farm with his father. During this time he joined the “Eddie Finch and the Singing Band” and played saxophone. The band toured throughout North and South Dakota. While playing in the band, he met Eddie’s sister, Helen.
Elwood and Helen E. Finch were married on Sept. 29, 1933 in Aberdeen, S.D.
They were married for 72 years when Helen passed away in 2004.
Elwood held many jobs throughout his life including working in a grocery store, gas station, and ammunitions factory.
He was also a school bus driver using the school bus he built on the back of a pickup to take children to and from school in the Gwinner community. Elwood and Helen first lived in Gwinner, N.D., where Elwood was a traveler for John Deere Company.
In 1944, they moved to Breckenridge, where they lived for several years while Elwood worked for Franklin Life Insurance and the local John Deere Implement dealer.
In 1948, Elwood opened Nelson Implement in Milnor, N.D., and added a Chevrolet franchise in 1949.
In 1966, Elwood expanded the business to include a partnership in the John Deere dealership in Jamestown, N.D., with his son-in-law, Maynard Helgaas.
Elwood and Maynard, along with his granddaughter, Julie Dunwoodie, grew the business to include additional John Deere dealerships in Valley City, Steele, LaMoure and Ellendale, N.D.
Elwood operated Nelson Implement and Chevrolet in Milnor until selling the business in 1981.
He retained interest in the other dealerships until they were all sold by 2002.
Elwood was recognized many times over for his leadership and sales achievements with John Deere Company.
Elwood was a member of various implement and automobile boards.
In 1970, he was elected president of the North Dakota Implement Dealers Association.
He was a long time member of St. Arnold’s Catholic Church, Milnor Volunteer Fire Department, Milnor City Council, and served on the Sargent County Fair Board for many years.
In 1981, Elwood received the Galaxie Award from the Satellite Club of Milnor for recognition of his community involvement and financial donations.
In 1948, Elwood became a pilot and enjoyed flying for many years, owning several airplanes. He also enjoyed golfing, hunting and fishing and spent many years fishing with friends and family in northern Canada at the family fishing cabin.
He also collected many classic Chevrolet cars. In 1980, Elwood and Helen bought their lake cabin on Otter Tail Lake, where they enjoyed spending the summers and fall. That same year, they also purchased a winter home in Sunland Village in Mesa, Ariz.
Elwood purchased a home in Fargo in 2006.
He touched the lives of many, creating special memories for friends, family, and employees. He will be greatly missed by all.
Elwood had a deep passion for his family and is survived by his daughter, Joan (Robert) Tuma, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; eight grandchildren, including Elizabeth (Dave) Thomas, Robert Tuma, Jayne (Randy) Yee, Alison Tuma, Julie (Dale) Dunwoodie, Ann (Todd) Kumm, Kathryn Helgaas (Doug Burgum) and John (April) Helgaas; a son-in-law, Maynard Helgaas (Julie); a sister, Betty Gail Jones (Harold), and sister-in-law, Pauline Nelson; 12 great-grandchildren, Dillan and Kendall Yee, Nathan and Sadie Dunwoodie, Michael, Hannah, Chelsey, and Kater Sitzmann, Victoria Krynski, AJ, Brekken and Helaina Helgaas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Helen; a daughter, Jean Ann Helgaas; and a brother, Mark Nelson.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the NDSU Development Foundation at
www.ndsufoundation.com, the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org, the Satellite Club of Milnor, N.D.,
www.milnornd.com/social_clubs_22, or your favorite charity.
Visitation: Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m., with remembrance and sharing from 4 to 5 p.m., at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, and two hours prior to the service at the church Service: 11 a.m. Monday, at St. Arnold’s Catholic
Church, Milnor, N.D.
Burial: A private family burial is planned at Britton Cemetery at Britton, S.D., following the service
Funeral Home: Dahlstrom Funeral Home, Wishek, N.D.
Condolences may be sent online at www.dahlstromfuneralservice.com
