Howard Lyle Nelson, age 85 of Westbrook, passed away Friday, September 11, 2015 at the Sanford Westbrook Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm Tuesday, September 15 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm Monday at the Westbrook Funeral Home with a prayer service at 6:30 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Interment is in the Westbrook Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Howard was born May 15, 1930 on the farm in Des Moines River Township to Victor & Frieda (Rupp) Nelson. He grew up on the farm, and attended country school districts 108 & 59. Howard graduated from Westbrook High School in 1948. He enlisted in the US Navy in August 1950, and completed his basic training at the US Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, IL. He served at the US Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, FL, the US Naval Receiving Station in Norfolk, VA, and at the Patrol Squadron VP 34 stationed in Trinidad, British West Indies. He received his Honorable Discharge at the US Naval Receiving Station in Brooklyn, NY in June 1954. Howard then returned to the Westbrook area and started farming. On April 30, 1955, Howard was united in marriage to Helen Pierson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook. Howard was very active in his community. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, and Lions Club. In addition to farming, he worked a variety of jobs including construction, farm mechanics, testing milk, working at the Westbrook light plant, and driving for the ambulance, Western Community Action, and for the Veterans. Howard enjoyed traveling and visited every state except Hawaii. He always enjoyed a cocktail and a good story. Most importantly, Howard loved his family, and was very involved in the lives of his daughters and grandchildren. Howard enjoyed playing cards with his friends every day. He also enjoyed mowing his lawn and caring for his yard.

Grateful for having shared his life are his children: Gail (Lyle) Nelson of Westbrook, Julie Rederth (Mike Hurley) of Flandreau, SD, & Nancy (Robert) Krocak of Carver, MN; grandchildren: Brittany, Kelley (fiancé Ryan Jensen), & Marcus Nelson, Makenzie, Madeline, & Sean Krocak; friend Elsie Riddell of Westbrook; and many other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Victor and Frieda, wife Helen, sister Evelyn (Milton) Yahnke, brothers Jay (Ada) Nelson & Dale (Norma) Nelson, son-in-law Conrad Rederth, and brothers-in-law J. Albert Pierson & Carl Pierson Jr.