A celebration of life for Dennis Earl Nelson, 91, of Isabella, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Mammoth Assembly of God Church. Visitation will be from 9:30 until service time at the church. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, with the interment service at the family cemetery at Holmesville, Minnesota.
He died peacefully on April 21, 2025 at his residence with his family around him, rejoining his wife of 65 years, Mary Alice, just a few weeks after her passing.
Dennis was born in Grand Park, Minnesota, on Oct. 21, 1933. He was raised near Detroit Lakes. He graduated from the eighth grade at Richmond Elementary in Richmond Township, Minnesota, in 1947, at age 13. His father signed for him to leave school and work on the farm. His mother died when he was 16. At age 17, he received a call from North Central, asking if he would come to be a student. He went to North Central Bible Institute (now University) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 1951-1954.
He travelled to Alaska with his brother-in-law, Kenneth Andrus, in 1955. He took a trip to California with his friend, Delbert Hostetler in 1956. He was drafted into the US Army on Oct. 15, 1956, and was honorably discharged on Oct. 14, 1958.
He returned to Minneapolis and was reacquainted with Mary Alice Kennedy of Park Falls, Wisconsin, whom he had met in 1953 while at North Central. They were married on July 4, 1959. Dennis and Mary lived in St. Paul (59-61) and Taylors Falls (61-67), Minnesota and St. Croix Falls (67-72), Centuria (72-73), and Grantsburg (73-89), Wisconsin, Little Canada (89-98), Minnesota, Isabella (98-2022, 23-25) and Springfield (22-23).
Dennis was a loving husband and father. His children remember him praying and reading his well-worn Bible after rising early each morning and before going to bed each night. A finer example could not be imagined. He was a faithful church member who loved his Lord Jesus deeply. He often rose to leadership in churches as a board member.
He worked in automotive parts most of his career and remembered scores of part numbers in his head. In retirement, he rebuilt and sold tractors, built lawn furniture and toys for his grandchildren.
He is survived by his children Kathleen Renee (James) West, Jeffery Mark (Janelle) Nelson, Steven Blake Nelson and Karen Sue (Mike) Dujardin; his grandchildren Karissa, Jessica, Kristianna, and Justin West, Jonathan (Brittney) Nelson, Joelle (Daniel) Van Otterloo, Jenni Nelson, and Josh Nelson; his great grandchildren Jedidiah, Ruth, and Azariah Nelson; Hudson, Hope, Lucas and Lucille Van Otterloo; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dennis was predeceased by his wife, Mary, their daughter, Sherrie Lynn Nelson, his parents, Ernest Nelson and Jennie (Larson) Nelson, his siblings Ethel (Kenneth) Andrus, Irene (Ted) Doten, Dean (Shirley) Nelson and Paul (Ethel) Nelson.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville, MO.
