Doris Nelson, 74, of Brooks, MN, died Friday, May 22, 2009 at North Country Hospital in Bemidji, MN.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on May 26, 2009 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee, Minnesota with Pastor Tim Lundeen officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-8 P.M. at Johnson Funeral Service in Oklee, MN on Monday, May 25, 2009 with a prayer service at 7 P.M. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Interment will be held in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Oklee, MN.

Doris Evangeline Nelson was born June 29, 1934 at Deaconess Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. to Osmund and Marie (Johnson) Hofstad. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grand Forks on August 19, 1934 and confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church on June 26, 1949 by Pastor J.M. Kunestad. Doris attended country school on Belmont Rd. near Grand Forks before moving to Equality Township in Red Lake County in October of 1943. She graduated from Oklee High School on June 5, 1953. On September 20, 1953 Doris was united in marriage to Wallace LaVerne Nelson at Salem Lutheran Church in Oklee, MN by Pastor J.M. Kunestad. After their marriage the couple lived in Minneapolis, Thief River Falls, and South Milwaukee, WI. The couple and their two little girls moved to Oklee, MN when Wally gained employment at Oklee School in 1957. Later on Doris and Wally added Mark, Tim, and Dennis to their family. In 1961 they moved to their farm in Lambert Township where Doris was a stay at home mom. A little later the growing family added Jeffrey and Todd. Doris kept busy gardening, canning, cooking, baking, and sewing cloths for the kids. Doris enjoyed canning tomatoes and making jams and jellies. She also enjoyed photography and making scrapbooks. In 1987 she opened a day care at her house and took care of many children until 2002. Her biggest enjoyment was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Doris was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee and taught Sunday School for many years. She also served as Superintendent and held offices in WELCA, was involved in many circles and quilted with the Zion Quilters.

Some of Doriss fond memories include flying to Louisiana twice to visit Lois and Bobby and flying to Florida to visit Orlando and Jean. She also enjoyed a family trip to Zipple Bay in 2008 where Doris, Wally and the seven kids caught trophy Northerns. Doris was far more excited than the boys were. Other good memories include a whole family vacation at Lake Sarahs Farmers Union Camp, a train trip to Seattle to see Lila, a sister trip to Niagara Falls and a Hofstad family camping Trip to Rose Lake.

Doris is survived by her husband Wallace; children, Annette (Glen) Vettleson of Oklee, MN, Connie (Kelly) Lundeen of Trail, MN, Mark (Cindy) Nelson of Erskine, MN, Tim (Deb) Nelson of Thief River Falls, MN, Dennis (Karen) Nelson of Frazee, MN, Jeffrey (Shari) Nelson of Moorhead, MN and Todd (Heather) Nelson of Hawley, MN; 20 grandchildren, Alison (Jonah) Bernier, Adam (Janelle), Brian (Beth), Nate (Sarah) and Kyla Lundeen, Shane (Amanda), Laura Vettleson, Jessica (Jared) Hofstad, Seth Vettleson, Susan (Brian) Walter, Amy (Chad) Sperling, Travis, Krista, Brandon and Josh Nelson, Tabitha (Brett) Syverson. Wyatt, Lexi, Blair, and Brynn Nelson; step-grandchildren; Rochelle Harstad, Amber Gilbertson; 16 great-grandchildren, Trisha, Jacob, Noah, and Joshua Bernier, Owen and Caleb Lundeen, Cade, Chloe and Griffin Lundeen, Ty, Mya and Whitney Lundeen, Logan, Ethan and Natalie Vettleson, Orin and Leif Hofstad; step-great-grandchildren, Maddison, Mason and Iver Harstad and Austin Waliser; 3 brothers, Orlando (Jean) Hofstad of Mary Esther, FL, Leslie (Alice) Hofstad of Plummer, MN, Raymond (Jayne) Hofstad of Buffalo, MN; 3 sisters, Lois (Bobby) Westmoreland of Shreveport, LA, Elaine Broker of Grafton, ND, and Carol (Kerry) Roisland of Grand Forks, ND as well as 6 nieces and 5 nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers Stanley and Paul; one niece; one nephew; and sister-in-law Karen Hofstad.