Lee R. Nelsen
WILLMAR -- Lee R. Nelsen, 55, Willmar, died Monday, Nov. 4, 2002, at Mayo Methodist Hospital in Rochester of complications following a bone marrow transplant.
He was born Nov. 21, 1946, in Willmar to Lawrence Trygve and Norma Jean (Erickson) Nelsen. He graduated from Willmar High School in 1964. He continued his education at St. Olaf College in Northfield, graduating in 1968 with a degree in art. He married Suzanne Maupin on Aug. 6, 1966, in Excelsior. He continued working in the family business, Nelsen's Laundry and Dry Cleaning. He worked there from 1968 to 1984, when he became self-employed as a sign painter in his business Signworks. He was a van driver for Vinje Lutheran Church and was active with One to One Ministry. He was a volunteer reader in Roosevelt Elementary School fifth-grade classes for many years.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Krister Nelson, Minneapolis, and Eric Nelsen, Columbia Heights; a daughter, Amanda Nelsen, Izmir, Turkey; a grandchild; his mother, Willmar; four brothers, Lawrence Nelsen, St. Paul, Paul Nelsen, Willmar, Peter Nelsen, St. Cloud, and Robert Nelsen, Brainerd; and two sisters, Mary Nelsen, Willmar, and Elizabeth Costas, Stamford, Conn.
His father died earlier.
Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar with the Rev. Steven Knudson and the Rev. Barbara Johnson officiating. Memorials are preferred to Vinje Lutheran Church, Willmar Public Library or Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester.
Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. today at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar.