Richard F. Nelson, 81, died Sunday, April 15, 2007 at Oakland Park Communities in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 Thursday, April 19, 2007 at Faith Lutheran Church in Goodridge, MN with Rev. Robert Dahlen officiating. Burial will follow at Goodridge Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Wednesday, April 18, 2007 with a 7:00 PM prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral.

Richard Forrest Nelson was born on January 23, 1926 in Superior, WI the son of Carl and Evelyn (Wilson) Nelson. He moved with his father, Carl to Goodridge to the family farm in Grand Plain Township, Marshall County, MN. He was baptized on March 24, 1929 in Goodridge, MN and confirmed September 15, 1940 by Rev. E.O. Sabo in Germantown, MN. Richard lived with his grandmother, Amanda Nelson and father, Carl until grown.

He attended country grade school at Germantown and the Crookston A.C. for a short time. Following school, Dick helped his father farm until his marriage to Margaret Vraa on December 30, 1948 at Wichita, Kansas where Dick worked as an apprentice brick layer. In 1950 the couple moved back to the home farm where he started milking cows and grain farming. His son, Lee joined him on the farm in 1970.

Richard was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Goodridge, he served on the Germantown Church Board, the Goodridge Lutheran Church Board (at the time Faith Lutheran Church was organized), the Marshall County FHA Board, Goodridge Creamery Board and Goodridge School Board.

He loved farming, hunting, fishing, holiday dinners, birthdays, visiting and especially loved his family.

Survivors include wife, Marge of Thief River Falls; sons, Bruce (Linda) Nelson of McIntosh, MN, Brad (Lana) Nelson of Oklee, MN, Keith Nelson St. Croix, Virgin Island, and Randy (Cherie) Nelson of Asheville, NC; daughter, Cheri (Noel) Haake of Crookston, MN; daughter-in-law, Donna Nelson of Goodridge, MN; 24 grandchildren, Jennifer (Jeremy) Johnson, Kimberly (Chris) Davison, Ryan Nelson, Kyle (Kim) Nelson, Quinten (Alyssa) Nelson, Tyler Nelson, Brent Nelson, Christopher Nelson, Kari McIntosh, Christy (Jesse) Tall, Melanie (Toby) Holthusen, Jason Nelson, Peter Nelson, Elizabeth Nelson, Rachel Nelson, Timothy Nelson, Jessica (Brent) Pederson, Megan Nelson, Jeramie (Krista) Nelson, Cassandra Nelson, Katy Adams, Josh Butenhoff, Jarret Butenhoff, Danielle Haake; 11 great-grandchildren, Chelsey, Brayden, & Josie Johnson, Kjerstin, Kehan, and Ashlyn Nelson, Alexis Berberich, Dylan McIntosh, Ava Holthusen, Annaliese & Annika Pederson, Victoria Adams, one aunt Fern Phillip, Thief River Falls, MN.

He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Lee; and daughter, Deanne.

Organist: Margie Iverson
Soloist: Deb Farris
Selections: On Eagles Wings & Softly And Tenderly
Congregational Hymns: How Great Thou Art #532 & Here I Am, Lord WOV#7
Casketbearers: Ryan Nelson, Kyle Nelson, Jeremy Johnson, Joshua Butenhoff, Peter Nelson, Jason Nelson
Honorary Casketbearers: Richards Grandchildren & Great-grandchildren