Keith Nelson, 57, of Thief River Falls, MN passed away on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, November 20, 2017 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls with Reverend Carl Hansen officiating.  Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls, MN

Visitation will be 3 – 5 PM, Sunday, November 19, 2017 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls with a 5 PM prayer service and visitation also one hour prior to the service on Monday.

Keith Ronald Nelson was born January 15, 1960 in Thief River Falls, MN to Dennis and Barbara (Van de Streek) Nelson.  He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.  He attended school at Washington Elementary, Franklin Middle School and Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls, MN.

On July 3, 1982, Keith was united in marriage to Laurie Walseth in St. Hilaire, MN.  To this union their son, Benjamin was born.

Keith worked for his uncle Harold at Perham Auto Wrecking and at St. Hilaire Co-op Elevator/Northwest Grain for 33 years.  He worked for MN DOT for 2 years.  He also farmed/raised cattle his entire life.

Keith loved the outdoors – mostly hunting and fishing up until he became disabled.  Cards and dice were an annual enjoyment at deer camp. He enjoyed building things, fabricating, and always tinkering in his shop, which he was very proud of.  Going for wheeler rides to check the neighborhood and the farm were a daily enjoyment.  In his later years his time was taken up with watching old westerns and M*A*S*H*.  Keith especially loved spending time with his grandson, Kaiden.

Keith was a member of St. Pauli Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife, Laurie; son, Ben (Kari Hesse and her children, Alliya, Graysen, and Deycia); grandson, Kaiden; parents, Dennis and Barbara; brother, Kurt; mother-in-law, Jeanette Walseth, all of Thief River Falls; sisters-in-law, Jill (Craig) Jonson, Lisa (Grant) Nelson, and Karen (Lee) Roland; Aunts, Dorothy Morehouse, Ruth Roos, June Jorgenson, Muriel Wavra, Sharon(Phil)Busch, Nelda Carpenter and Marky Van de Streek; Uncle, Edward Van de Streek; his buddy, Gauge, along with many relatives and friends.

Preceding him in death are his grandparents, Norton and Olga Nelson and Egbert and Effie Van de Streek; father-in-law, Robert Walseth; brother-in-law, Ross Walseth; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.