Lyle Arthur Nelson was born at home to his parents Melvin and Jennie Nelson on November 14, 1932, in Traverse County, Wheaton, Minn. He attended elementary school in Rosholt, S. Dak., and high school at West Central School of Agriculture, Morris, Minn. Lyle received his B.S. and M.S. in teaching and administration at Northern State University, Aberdeen, S. Dak., going on to become a teacher and administrator at Howard & Willow Lake, S. Dak., and Round Lake and Rushford, Minn.
Lyle married Patricia Manley on August 20, 1957. Together they had four children: Dale, Janet (Charbonneau), Jean (Shumway) and Susan (Langlois). In 1975, he went to work with Farmers’ Coop Elevator in Rushford, working there full- and part-time for over 20 years.
Lyle’s love for everyone he met came shining through in his dry humor, followed by a bright smile. He enjoyed serving others whether it be making coffee for Wednesday and Sunday fellowship at Rushford Lutheran Church, boiling and serving cod at the church’s annual codfish supper, delivering Meals on Wheels, or simply cleaning the dishes after a senior citizens’ lunch.
Lyle served on the city of Rushford planning commission for many years after the town flooded in 2007. He also worked with the mission builders to add an addition onto Rushford Lutheran Church. He continued working with them for three additional projects, two in northern Minnesota and one in Iowa. Lyle shared his lovely tenor voice by singing in a church choir everywhere he lived for the majority of his life. He sang with the Winona Barbershop Chorus for over 20 years. Lyle’s favorite pastime was driving the gravel, country roads around Rushford with his wife and family. He loved to regale his passengers with stories of who was living where and how the crops were fairing this year.
Lyle is preceded in death by brothers Wayne (Joan) and Darrel (Marlys) Nelson.
He is survived by his wife Patricia, four children: Dale (Sandra), Janet (Tyson) Charbonneau, Jean (Jon) Shumway, and Susan (Leo) Langlois; sister Joy Haberlach, and great-granddaughter Freya Clark.
A celebration of life service for Lyle will be held on a later date, yet to be determined, at Rushford Lutheran Church, Rushford, Minn.
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