Boyd Nelson


Boyd Nelson, 92, Pipestone, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020 at the Pipestone County Hospice House.

A private family funeral service was held at First Presbyterian Church in Pipestone.

Interment was in Old Woodlawn Cemetery, Pipestone.

Victor Boyd Nelson was born to Victor and Lucile Bell (Peacock) Nelson on Aug. 11, 1928 on a farm in Leeds Township, Murray County, Minn. where he was raised and attended country school in District 58. Upon completion of his education, he began farming in Jackson County, Minn.

On Jan. 29, 1948 he married Pearl Williams at the Presbyterian Church in Windom. Following their marriage, they lived and farmed in Jackson County. In 1951, they moved to a farm in Murray County near Dundee for one year, then Trimont for one year and back to Windom for three years. They then moved to Balaton for six years before moving to Tyler. After renting farms in six locations in Southwest Minnesota they finally purchased a farm near Ruthton in 1967. They continued farming the land along with milking 75 cows until retiring in 1990.

In 1991 they moved to Pipestone. In 1993 they began wintering in Mesa, Ariz., where they resided at the Good Life RV Park for 15 years.

He entered the care of the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone and received care there for a short time. 

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Pipestone where he served as an elder and sang in the church choir. While living near Ruthton, he was a member of the Russell Presbyterian Church. In 1958 he became a member of the Russell Masonic Lodge and later the Ruthton Masonic Lodge and the Quarry Masonic Lodge No. 148 AF & AM in Pipestone. He had served as Master of the Lodge in all three lodges. He was also a member of the El Riad Temple of the Shrine in Sioux Falls, S.D. and the Calumet Chapter No. 51 Order of the Eastern Star. While in Mesa he enjoyed singing bass in a 50-member choir at the Good Life RV Park.

He is survived by his wife, Pearl Nelson, Pipestone; six children, Charles (Colleen) Nelson, Tyler, Dora (Allen) Rupp, St. Peter, Joanne (Scott) Herring, Omaha, Neb., Michael (Julie) Nelson, Holland, Julie Houselog, Bakersfield, Calif., and James (Tami) Nelson, Ruthton; 17 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren; one sister, Diane Armstrong, Weston, Mo. and three brothers, David Nelson, Pequot Lake, Raymond (Lucille) Nelson, Fargo, N.D. and Lynn (Katherine) Nelson, Windom.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Betty Neitzel two brothers, Byron Nelson and Gary Nelson and one special nephew. Rodney Plantz.

(Hartquist Funeral Home,

Pipestone Chapel)