David Joseph Nelson

David Nelson of Rush City passed away Sunday, July 16, 2017 at Ecumen of North Branch at the age of 85. David was born on November 29, 1931 at their family farm in Rushseba Township to Albert and Marie (Rosell) Nelson.  He was the youngest of their seven children.  God was always extremely important in his life from a young child until the day he died.  The family attended the Rush City Covenant Church for many years where he taught Sunday school and was active in the church. David attended the Brickyard Country School just a mile away from his home.  He spoke fondly about his elementary school being conducted in a “one room schoolhouse.”  He attended the Rush City High School and graduated in 1949. On August 6, 1960, he was united in marriage to Janice Anderson at the First Baptist Church in Cook, MN.  The couple resided on the family farm in Rush City where they operated a dairy farm for most of their marriage.  David loved to farm which he did with his son Mark for many years.  His farm dogs and cats were important to him.  An extremely hard worker, David was a self-taught carpenter.  He built a lot of Mark and Carrie’s home and redid his own farm house many times.  He also loved to go for airplane rides with Mark.  David was a very proud grandpa and enjoyed attending cross country and track meets; volleyball, football and basketball games.  David always looked forward to coffee at “Creekside” with his friends many days a week. David served on the Rushseba Township Board as the Township Clerk for 20+ years.  He was a member of the Rush City Covenant Church and recently was attending the Rush City Baptist Church.  He also was a member of Farm Bureau and Gideon’s International. David is survived by his son Mark (Carrie) Nelson; grandchildren Kayla Nelson, Kevin Nelson and Kyle (Bailey) Nelson all of Rush City; sister Helen Johnson of Braham; sisters-in-law Ruthie Nelson of Maplewood, Rosalind Anderson of Minnetonka, Irene Gullickson of Plymouth, and Margaret Nordstrom of Brooklyn Center; brothers-in-law Jim Gerdin of Braham and David Anderson of Pennsylvania. He is preceded in death by his parents Albert and Marie Nelson; wife Janice Nelson; brothers: Wilbert Nelson, Paul Nelson, Reuben Nelson, Clarence Nelson; sister Dorothy Gerdin. Pastor David Melin will officiate funeral services for David Nelson: 11:00 AM Tuesday (7/25/17) at the Rush City Baptist Church.  A time of visitation and reviewal is planned Monday evening from 4-7 PM at the Olson Funeral Chapel in Rush City and also one hour prior to the service at the church.  The interment will take place at the Mission Covenant Cemetery in Rush City. Memorials may be directed to: Gideons International or Rush City Baptist Church.Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City~Olson Chapel. www.FuneralAndCremationService.com