Lester H. Nelson

Lester H. Nelson, 100, of Hamilton, ND passed away Friday, September 16, 2016, at Wedgewood Manor, Cavalier, ND. Funeral service will be held Monday, September 19, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cavalier Presbyterian Church, Cavalier, ND. Visitation will be held at the church for one hour before the time of services. Burial will be held in the Hamilton Cemetery.
Lester Harvey Nelson was born August 26, 1916 to Nels and Pauline (Ehlert) Nelson, on a farmstead near Hamilton, ND. He was the youngest of seven children, four brothers and two sisters. Lester attended Hamilton High School graduating in 1935. He farmed and ranched in the Hamilton area and also spent one year in the CCC in Reamer, MN. Lester served in the U.S. Army for one and a half years, stationed in San Francisco, CA.
On January 13, 1945, he married Eva Myrtle Wolfgram in Grand Forks, ND. They lived in Clyde, ND for four years where he worked at the International Elevator. After returning to Hamilton he worked at the Peavey Elevator in Hamilton, Burke's Bakery in Cavalier, owned and operated Nelson's Hartz Store in Hamilton, and was a pulp end foreman for American Crystal Sugar Company, Drayton, ND. Upon his retirement from the ASCS, he helped the catering business at the Chuck Wagon Café and provided fresh produce and flowers for the café.
He was known for his green thumb, both produce and flowers. The "gladiola" was his signature flower and he would often plant 700 bulbs every year. His two gardens in Hamilton were the size of most residential lots.
During his recent 100th birthday, he was able to see all seven of his children on that day. The family also celebrated his birthday for 20 years in Fargo, calling it "Lester Nelson Day."
Survivors include his wife, Eva; children: Roger (Connie) Nelson, Fargo, ND, Evonne (John) Blair, St. Thomas, ND, Brad (Susan) Nelson, Cavalier, ND, Paulette (Ron) Keney, Bismarck, ND, Brenda (Jeff) Schauer, Wishek, ND, Scott Nelson, Hamilton, ND, Lisa (Randy) Ermer, Cavalier, ND; 17 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his parents; sisters: Iva Peterson and Grace Enerson; brothers, Albert, Frank, Harry, and Donald.