Mildred "Millie" Frances Nelson
June 26, 1912 — September 9, 2017
Mildred "Millie" Frances Nelson
Mildred "Millie" Frances Nelson, age 105 of Mankato and formerly of Detroit Lakes, died peacefully, Saturday, September 9, 2017 at Mayo Clinic Health System – Mankato.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 16, 2017, at All Saints Catholic Church, Madison Lake, MN. Visitation will be one hour before service at church on Saturday. Interment will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society.
Millie was born, June 26, 1912, on the family farm in section 2, Brandon Township, Douglas County, Minnesota. She was the third child of John Hopfner and Caroline Wilken. Her Grandparents, Joseph Hopfner, Margaret Rothstein, William Wilken, and Bertha Hockert, were pioneers in the German community of Millerville, just to the north. Millie was especially close to her Grandpa Wilken. Also in her family were big sister Blanche, big brother Bill, and little brother Phil. Millie first attended country school, and later, when the family moved into town in Brandon, school in town. She graduated from Brandon High School in 1930. After graduation she attended Beauty School in Fargo, North Dakota. In 1933 she opened her own beauty shop in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota. It was there that she met Carl Nelson. They were married on August 10, 1935, in her parents’ home in Brandon. During the first few years of their marriage, Carl and Millie moved around all over the state as Carl was transferred to work on different highway construction jobs. They finally settled down in Fergus Falls, Minnesota in 1940. Millie’s first child, John Carl, was born in Fergus in 1942. When Carl joined the US Navy in 1943, Millie and John went to live with her mother in Brandon. After the war, Carl became the County Engineer for Douglas County and the family moved to Alexandria. Millie’s second child, Paul William, was born there in 1949. While in Alex they built a new house and both Carl and Millie were active in the Church and Community. In 1953 they moved to Oregon near Millie’s sister, Blanche, but by the end of the year they were back in Minnesota. They lived in Wadena where Carl was once again a County Engineer. Millie’s third child, Ann Marie, was born there in 1957.
Carl and Millie made their final move in 1958, coming to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Their neighborhood was very friendly; there were lots of kids, coffee parties, and card parties. Millie was active in church affairs again. Carl retired in 1975 after which he and Millie did more traveling, spending time visiting children and grandchildren. Carl contracted cancer in 1986 and Millie became his caregiver. After he died in 1992 Millie lived alone for a few years but then found a companion in Neil Handlos. In 2002, Millie’s 90th birthday was a cause for great celebration. Family and friends came from near and far. After Neil died in 2010 it became clear that Millie could no longer live by herself. She moved to Pathstone Living in Mankato, Minnesota, to be near daughter Ann the following year. She spent her final years there.
Survivors include 3 children: John (Sue) Nelson of Alexandria, VA, Paul (Shirley) Nelson of Chattanooga, TN, Ann (Bob) Van Deusen of Madison Lake, MN; 7 grandchildren: Carl, Christine, Cliff, Natalie, Megan, Mike, and Jessi; and 8 great Grandchildren: Kalia, Astrid, Clara, Millie, Hazel, Lilja, Jenny, and Carson; and extended family.
Millie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carl; sister, Blanche; and two brothers, Bill and Phil.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 16, 2017, at All Saints Catholic Church, Madison Lake, MN. Visitation will be one hour before service at church on Saturday. Interment will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society.
Millie was born, June 26, 1912, on the family farm in section 2, Brandon Township, Douglas County, Minnesota. She was the third child of John Hopfner and Caroline Wilken. Her Grandparents, Joseph Hopfner, Margaret Rothstein, William Wilken, and Bertha Hockert, were pioneers in the German community of Millerville, just to the north. Millie was especially close to her Grandpa Wilken. Also in her family were big sister Blanche, big brother Bill, and little brother Phil. Millie first attended country school, and later, when the family moved into town in Brandon, school in town. She graduated from Brandon High School in 1930. After graduation she attended Beauty School in Fargo, North Dakota. In 1933 she opened her own beauty shop in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota. It was there that she met Carl Nelson. They were married on August 10, 1935, in her parents’ home in Brandon. During the first few years of their marriage, Carl and Millie moved around all over the state as Carl was transferred to work on different highway construction jobs. They finally settled down in Fergus Falls, Minnesota in 1940. Millie’s first child, John Carl, was born in Fergus in 1942. When Carl joined the US Navy in 1943, Millie and John went to live with her mother in Brandon. After the war, Carl became the County Engineer for Douglas County and the family moved to Alexandria. Millie’s second child, Paul William, was born there in 1949. While in Alex they built a new house and both Carl and Millie were active in the Church and Community. In 1953 they moved to Oregon near Millie’s sister, Blanche, but by the end of the year they were back in Minnesota. They lived in Wadena where Carl was once again a County Engineer. Millie’s third child, Ann Marie, was born there in 1957.
Carl and Millie made their final move in 1958, coming to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Their neighborhood was very friendly; there were lots of kids, coffee parties, and card parties. Millie was active in church affairs again. Carl retired in 1975 after which he and Millie did more traveling, spending time visiting children and grandchildren. Carl contracted cancer in 1986 and Millie became his caregiver. After he died in 1992 Millie lived alone for a few years but then found a companion in Neil Handlos. In 2002, Millie’s 90th birthday was a cause for great celebration. Family and friends came from near and far. After Neil died in 2010 it became clear that Millie could no longer live by herself. She moved to Pathstone Living in Mankato, Minnesota, to be near daughter Ann the following year. She spent her final years there.
Survivors include 3 children: John (Sue) Nelson of Alexandria, VA, Paul (Shirley) Nelson of Chattanooga, TN, Ann (Bob) Van Deusen of Madison Lake, MN; 7 grandchildren: Carl, Christine, Cliff, Natalie, Megan, Mike, and Jessi; and 8 great Grandchildren: Kalia, Astrid, Clara, Millie, Hazel, Lilja, Jenny, and Carson; and extended family.
Millie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carl; sister, Blanche; and two brothers, Bill and Phil.
Guestbook
Visits: 5
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
