Richard Nelson

Richard (Dick) Charles Nelson, 83, of Two Harbors, died Tuesday July 28, 2015 at the Barross Cottages in Two Harbors.

He was born in Two Harbors on April 10, 1932, the son of Charles and Olga (Simonsen) Nelson.  In 1958, Dick moved his family to Phoenix then to Prescott, Arizona.  He worked in construction as a heavy equipment operator in many areas of Arizona and also at the North Slope in Alaska.  He returned to Two Harbors in 1982.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Naomi; six children Kristy (Randy) Field of Tucson, Shari Nelson and Brenda (Ron) Thien of Prescott Valley, Tim (Donna) Nelson of Thief River Falls, Mark Nelson of Phoenix, and Marlys (Steve) Parks of Camp Verde, AZ; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren who are spread across the US from California to Minnesota; sisters, Delores Nelson of Gresham, Oregon and Linda Nelson of Duluth; aunt, Pauline Simonsen; and too many first and second cousins to count, and just as many friends.

He was blessed with a wonderful personality, but not good health.  He endured open heart surgery, a broken back, hip, and ankle (at different times), Parkinson’s disease, and skin cancer, but no one ever heard him complain.  He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

A big thank you to all the caregivers at Barross Cottages.

Visitation will be from 3 PM until the 4 PM Memorial Service on Friday July 31, 2015 at Living Waters Fellowship in Two Harbors, followed by dinner.  Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery.