By HDN Staff
HUNGRY HORSE John C. Nelson, 72, died Friday, March 31, 2000 at a Flathead Valley hospital of natural causes.
Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Interment will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kalispell.
Nelson was born north of Havre on May 19, 1927 to Victor and Hazel (Hunter) Nelson. He was raised on the farm and attended the Lohman's Country School north of Havre as well as schools in Havre.
He worked for various farmers around Havre during his younger years and was a mechanic for a number of years. He worked for the city of Havre and was a brakeman for the Great Northern Railroad.
Nelson married Louise Maze on Aug. 9, 1947 in Chinook. In 1966, they moved to Kalispell where he worked for Plum Creek for a short time. In 1975, they moved to Hungry Horse.
Nelson enjoyed gardening and working in his yard, hunting, fishing, camping and country music. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and helped them with projects.
Nelson was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Frank, Roy and Robert Nelson, all of Havre.
Survivors include his wife, Louise, of Hungry Horse; sons Cliff of Devon, Melvin of North Pole, Alaska, Carl of Columbia Falls, Leonard of Great Falls; daughters Karen Holmquist, Margaret Thompson and Sharon Elavsky, all of Kalispell, Donna McBride of Nevada, Mo.; two sisters, Minnie Simko and Dorothy Woronik of Havre; brother, Melvin Nelson of Atlanta, Ga.; 27 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Columbia Mortuary of Columbia Falls is in charge of arrangements.
