Esther Lorraine Nelson, 85

Published 10:40 am Thursday, May 1, 2014

Esther Lorraine Nelson, 85, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, April 19, 2014, in Spokane, Wash.

Nelson

Nelson

Lorraine was born in Charles City, Iowa, on March 1, 1929. She also lived in Austin for a time.

Lorraine was the fifth child of William Louis Butler and Esther May Edge. She attended various country and city schools in Iowa and Minnesota.

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She married Elvon Nelson on July 2, 1947, at the First Baptist Church of Austin, Minn. They both attended Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, and pastored their first church in Big Lake, Minn. Their ministry allowed them to faithfully serve 11 churches, mostly in the west.

Lorraine was always active in each church, serving in capacities including Junior Department Superintendent, AWANA club commander, VBS leader, church secretary, and pretty much anything else that needed attention.

Their son Dan was born in Moses Lake, Wash., son John in Polson, Mont., and daughter Jan in Pasco, Wash.

Lorraine was a certified medical secretary and she worked at several hospitals and medical centers.

Her greatest joy was her family, with countless hour full of wonderful memories while raising and enjoying her beloved children and grandchildren.

She is survived by son Dan Elvon Nelson and wife Patty; son John Marvin Nelson and wife Shari; and daughter Jan May Smith and husband Gary; six grandchildren, Karyn, Jennifer, Laura, D’Neil, Rachel and Curt; and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by siblings Dorothy May Butler, Garnet Hattie Butler, Margaret June Bretz; Maureece Mildred Butler, James Dale Butler, and Russell Lee Butler. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Elvon; her mother and father, her brothers Arbor, Leonard and Bill, and sister Virginia.

Services have already taken place.