Evans Funeral Home
"Compassionate Funeral Service"
Carrington and New Rockford, North Dakota
701.652.3003 or 701.947.2911
Secondary Number ~ 701.650.9937
Eldon Nelson
Eldon Glenn Nelson, 85 years old, passed away peacefully at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd on Thursday, January 25, 2024, after a long battle with Parkinson’s.
Eldon was born in Maddock, ND to Charlie and Josie (Simonson) Nelson on November 26, 1938, being 2nd to the youngest of a family of 8.
Eldon worked various jobs in his younger years for farmers and as a gas station attendant. He married Mary Lou (Schafer) on July 28, 1962, at St. John’s Catholic Church in New Rockford, ND. Together they were blessed with three children: Renae, Lori, and Brian.
During his married years, he worked road construction, running scrapers and doing finishing work, and in his later years, he ran a road grader for Eddy County. He retired from the county in 2001. Eldon had worked construction for Archie Cambell and Bill Lindeman. In his retirement, he worked with his wife, Mary Lou, as a caretaker doing maintenance at the St. John’s and Prairie Home Cemetery.
Eldon is survived by his loving wife, Mary Lou; children, Renae (Bruce) Gilliss, Lori (Todd) Weber, and Brian (Tina Ziegler) Nelson; 7 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; brother, Byron (Pauline) Nelson; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Josie Nelson; brothers, Harley, Clayton, and Victor Nelson; and sisters, Vennoy Stokke, Alerene Hoffman, and Doris Jordon.
Eldon’s Visitation will be Sunday, January 28, 2024, 6:00-7:00PMwith a Vigil Service at 7:00PMall at Evans Funeral Home, New Rockford.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, January 29, 2024 at 2:00PMat St. John’s Catholic Church, New Rockford.
His Burial will be at the St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, New Rockford.
Posted Condolences:
18 Comments
Submit a Comment
Condolences are reviewed by staff.
Mary Lou, Renae, Lori and Brian
Prayers and lots of ((HUGGS)) from our family to yours.
God decided that Eldon was ready to become a special Guardian Angel.
That smiling face shall be missed, and the memories shall be cherished.
Kathy and Corey
We will miss you Uncle Elden, we will be here to help if MaryLou needs us. Tel the family hi from us.
Many fond memories with Eldon and MaryLou. He was such a kind man and wonderful father. The Nelson family was like a second family to me. Love you all very much.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Mary Lou and family. Uncle Eldon was an inspiration to many of us and will always be loved.
Love you guys and we’re always here for you.
Sending prayers and hugs to the Nelson family. Eldon and Mary Lou were always so fun to be around.
Mary Lou, Renae, Lori and Brian and the family. Our thoughts are with you and sending much love and light to you. I will always remember Uncle Eldon with a twinkle in his eye and a special hug and smile for me. I hope he is reunited with Mom and the rest of his brothers and sisters and mom and dad to await us all. Love you all and will be sending all my prayers to you.
Eldon was an amazing person. I wish I had only known him deeper and longer. We are beyond blessed to carry his honor in our family for all our days.
Our sympathies to you Mary Lou & family! Eldon had the biggest smile that would melt one’s heart!
So sorry for your loss
So very sorry. Eldon was so kind and always happy. Lori has his laugh! Always reminds me of him. Am praying for you all. Cherish the memories forever. Love and prayers. Julie Sharbono and family
So sorry to hear..I enjoyed working with Eldon at the county…he was fun and easy to work with…and a good guy
It was a pleasure knowing him- so considerate. He was a tough act to follow, we joked around and had a few chuckles working for the county. He made the days much easier or back in the days when I just happened to bump into him at HANSON’S. He left me with nothing but good memories, you can’t beat that. He is taking out the bumps on the road to Heaven so we can get there !! God Bless
So sorry for your loss. Although I didn’t know Eldon very well, he always had a smile, and was so kind and patient even with the occasional little “oops” when I was in high school waiting tables and later with a wave to say hello anytime you saw him. You and yours will be in my prayers.
Mary Lou, Renae, Lori & Brian. My heart breaks for you. Eldon was such a “sweetheart of a man” and to think, oh what a glorious reunion is going on in heaven now between brothers and sisters! May your memories guide you as you navigate through this heartbreaking loss. I am sending love and prayers to you all.❤️
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all
To Mary Lou, Renae, Lori and Brian, Expressing our sincerest condolences for the loss of your cherished husband and father. Eldon lived a life full of love and will be greatly missed.
As I am just learning of the passing of Eldon, I sit with a heavy heart. My heart goes out to all of the family.
I learned a lot from Eldon throughout the years growing up in New Rockford. From working on motorcycles, snowmobiles and my 79 Monte Carlo. If my Dad wasn’t home to help me or give me advise, Eldon was always my next stop for help or direction on how to fix or make it better. I can still remember the day he showed me how to put an alternator kit in the alternator for my car. Many of hrs were spent in his driveway or garage working along side Eldon and Brian on anything that had a motor. Eldon was such a great guy in many ways…
i was sorry to hear of Eldon’s passing. He was a great man that you could talk to about anything. I worked with him while at ECRD. We mowed a lot of County Roads, and always enjoyed talking with him at break. He also made the job of sealing road cracks enjoyable. He was also a very avid snowmobiler, and i did get a chance to ride with him a couple times, wish it would have been more. God Bless the Nelson Family!!