Howard E. Nelson age 89 of Westbrook, passed away suddenly Sunday, May 29, 2011 at his home. 

A joint funeral service for Howard and his sister, Ruth Detlefsen, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 1 at the Westbrook Funeral Home.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Wednesday.  Interment is in the Westbrook Cemetery.  Online condolences may be sent via www.stephensfuneralservice.com.  Stephens Funeral Service – Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. 

 

Howard E. Nelson was born March 29, 1922 in Cottonwood County, Minnesota to Oscar and Esther (Krogh) Nelson.  At the age of 10, Howard left home and lived with the Jensen family doing farm labor and tiling.  He was united in marriage to Lorraine “Enie” Erickson on March 6, 1946 at the Lutheran parsonage in Tracy, Minnesota.  In their earlier years, Howard and Enie loved to go dancing and they always enjoyed music.  Howard was a lifelong farmer and a hard worker.  He loved family picnics, playing horseshoe and cards.  In his later years, Howard looked forward to when his son, Keith, would take him for coffee every afternoon.

 

Howard is survived by his wife Lorraine “Enie” of Westbrook; daughter Marlene Rensink of Trinidad, CO, and her children: Karen, Teresa, Meredith, Ryan, and Morgan; sons Keith Nelson of Westbrook, and Lyle (Gail) Nelson of Westbrook, and their children: Brittany, Kelley, and Marcus.  He is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren; and siblings: Betty Myer of Hillsdale, MI, Richard (Dee) Nelson of Plainview, MN, David Nelson, and Bob Nelson of Hutchinson, MN.  He is preceded in death by his parents, grandson Derek Rensink, siblings: Juleen, Jeanette, Carol, Janice, and Ruth, who passed away only one day before Howard.