Luella Mary Nelsen

Luella M. Nelsen age 97 of Westbrook, MN died Thursday, February 2, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Center in Westbrook. Services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, February 11, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 PM Friday, February 10, 2012 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Westbrook, with a prayer service at 7:30 PM and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in the Westbrook Cemetery. The Almlie Funeral Service of Westbrook, Tracy and Balaton is handling the arrangements. Luella Mary Nelsen was born June 27, 1914 to Adolph and Josephine (Langland) Franz in Westbrook, MN. Following her birth the family moved to South Dakota, and later to Pillager and Brainerd, MN, before returning to Westbrook in 1929. She attended country school and Westbrook Public School. On December 4, 1939 Luella married Leslie Nelsen at her mother’s home in Westbrook. They made their home on a farm north of Storden, MN. In 1936 they moved to a farm southwest of Westbrook, which became the family farm, residing there until 1970 when they retired and moved into Westbrook. Lu was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she participated in WELCA, Bible study, and sewing for the Dorcas Society. She was also actively involved in the Westbrook Senior Center, Hospital Auxiliary, and as a volunteer at the Good Samaritan Home. One of her favorite pastimes was quilting. She was known for her beautiful hand quilting, and made many for family members and others. Lu was a great cook and loved to entertain. She enjoyed playing the harmonica and accordion, and playing cards. Together, she and Leslie visited all 50 states, plus trips to Europe, the Philippines and South America. She counted her grandchildren and great grandchildren among her greatest joys. Lu became a resident of the Westbrook Good Samaritan Center in December of 2005, where she died Thursday, February 2, 2012 at the age of 97. She is survived by her three sons, Marlowe (Donna) Nelsen, Bob (Sally) Nelsen, both of Westbrook, MN and Gary (Jan) Nelsen of Indianapolis, IN; two daughters, Elaine Rand of Mankato, MN and Mary (Ken) Kashmarek of Eldridge, IA; sixteen grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; one sister, Edna (LeRoy) Johnson of Plymouth, MN; four sisters-in-law, Nina Franz of Plymouth, MN, Vera Larson of Westbrook, MN, Ardys Dennis of Saltillo, TX and one brother-in-law, Jim (Donna) Nelsen of Shoreview, MN; many nieces, nephews and friends. Her husband, Leslie, her parents, two sisters, Martha and Grace, seven brothers, Harold, Frede, Lester, Tony, Albert, Bernard and Bill, and two brothers-in-law, Don Nelsen and Lloyd Nelsen and sisters in law Amy Benson, Ethel Cohrs, Irene Sturges, and Vivian Schauer preceded her in death.