William "Bill" Nelson

William Alan Nelson was born February 26, 1938, in St. Paul, MN, son of Rudolph B. and Ethel (Mattson) Nelson.  When Bill was a young child, the family moved to Sauk Rapids.  He graduated from Sauk Rapids High School and St. Cloud State College.  He taught history and art for 34 years at Agassiz Jr. High School, Fargo, ND, and was a life member of the National Education Association.

His interests and activities included researching the genealogy of his immigrant great-grandparents, all early residents of Douglas County.  He is a past editor of the Glåma Ekko, newsletter for Solørlag of America and enjoyed meeting relatives in Norway and Sweden.  He was a life member of the Douglas County Historical Society where he assisted in teaching genealogy classes.

Bill was a Boy Scout leader for many years, active in camping and canoeing with young people. He used his artistic talent by painting many watercolors, especially of the Boundary Water Canoe Area.

William died on Thursday, November 12, 2020, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul at the age of 82.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Rudolph Jr.  He is survived by sisters and brothers, Gloria (Stan) Clewett, Marilyn (Don) Hill, Elinor Couture,  Donald (Janet), JoAnn (Curt) Hogenson, Carol (Charles) Adleman, John (Nancy), and David, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 AM on Thursday, November 19, 2020, at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria.  The service will be live-streamed and recorded on the funeral home website.  Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Interment will be held at Fahlun Lutheran Church Cemetery, Nelson, MN.

To protect the safety of all, masks, social distancing and building occupancies will be observed.