Frances I. Nelson

Frances I. Nelson, age 97, of Lake Crystal, died Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at Luther Memorial Home in Madelia.

Funeral Service 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 30, 2016 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Butternut with Rev. Salim Kaderbhai, officiating.  Visitation will be one hour before service at the church on Saturday.  Interment will be in Butternut Valley Cemetery.  Lake Crystal Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Luther Memorial Home, or the ECHO Food Shelf.

Frances was born March 23, 1919 to Hugh Burton and Florence (Myers) Barnett in Lake Belt Township, Martin County, Minnesota.  She graduated from Ceylon High School in 1935 and later Mankato State Teachers College.  She began teaching in the fall of 1938 in a one room country school, teaching grades 1-8, which she did for 5 years.  For 2 years during World War II she was employed in defense work. After the war she resumed teaching in Gruver, IA, then Welcome, MN, before going to Ceylon to teach 2nd grade for 7 years.  In 1954, she began teaching 2nd grade and Title I reading in the Lake Crystal Public Schools. She returned to Mankato State College in 1959 earning her B.S. degree.  Frances was united in marriage to Burton L. Nelson on August 1, 1959 in Lake Crystal.  She retired from teaching in 1979. 

Frances was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church and its ladies group, the American Legion Post #294 Auxiliary, and the Madelia Community Hospital Auxiliary.  She volunteered for ECHO Food Shelf and also the media center at the Lake Crystal Elementary School. Frances and Burton were honored with the KEYC – TV Jefferson Good People Award in 1985, KMSU - Radio Volunteer of the Week in 1988, Blue Earth County Recycling Award in 1991, and the WCCO - Radio Good Neighbor Award in 1995.  Frances and Burton quilted over 778 quilts for Lutheran World Relief. She was always faithful to send birthday and Christmas Cards to family and friends. Frances enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, and playing scrabble.

Frances is survived by a brother, Robert Barnett; many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Burton in 1995; four brothers, Albert, Hugh, Edward, and Raymond; one sister, Shirley Stefanski; and many extended family.