Loretta Nelson

Loretta (Patzer) Nelson, age 92 of Austin, Minnesota, slipped quietly into God’s arms on Thursday, October 3, 2019 at Good Samaritan Society – ComforCare in Austin. Loretta Mildred Patzer was born on September 4, 1927 on the family farm in Delmont, South Dakota. She was the second child born to Christian and Emma (Nuss) Patzer. Soon after, she was baptized at the German Reformed Church. Her baptismal certificate is entirely written in the German language. Calvin Coolidge was the president, Mt. Rushmore was just started, and the Great Depression was just around the corner. Loretta loved South Dakota. She attended a one-room country school. She was a good student and fast learner with little girl dreams of becoming a teacher. Then came the Great Depression and severe drought. Family farms were wiped out and no longer provided a living. There were no food stamps, government checks, food shelves, or county assistance at that time. Hospitals were few and far between. However, the absence of these things made friends, families, and neighbors stronger. The Patzers then moved their family to Austin, Minnesota, where Christian’s sister (Lydia Clawson) lived and worked for a company called “Hormels.” Christian got a job there and the rest is history. On February 26, 1946, Loretta was united in marriage to Raymond D. Nelson at Grace Lutheran Church in Austin with Harold and Shirley Gomer as their attendants. Ray and Loretta had three children, Dean, Peggy, and William. Loretta loved being a homemaker, wife, and mother. She also found time to work at various jobs in Austin including the “Hub”, Hormel Company, and Banfield and Sumner schools. She was always very active in Lincoln School P.T.A., cub scouts, Grace Lutheran Church WELCA, quilting, circle, kitchen duties and more. She really enjoyed dancing, golf, playing bridge and “500”, watching the Twins games, and being with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Survivors include her daughter, Peggy (Dennis) Boik of Austin, MN; son, Bill Nelson (special friend Tori) of Austin, MN; four grandchildren, Scott (Carrie) Boik of Urbandale, IA, Christopher (Taryn) Boik of Victoria, MN, Andrea Farr of Austin, MN, Kathryn Boik of Scottsdale, AZ; six great grandchildren, Riley Nelson, Liam Farr, Camryn Boik, Emily Boik, Alex Andersen, Adam Andersen; two sisters, Veleria Branstad of Owatonna, MN, Shirley Olson of Owatonna, MN; sister-in-law, Mona Patzer of Cass Lake, MN; also many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Christian and Emma Patzer; husband, Raymond Nelson; son, Dean R. Nelson; two grandsons, Cory Boik and Jamey Andersen; brother, Arlington Patzer; sisters, Verna (Lester) Mills, Vernita (Kenneth) Branstad, Alice (Romanus) Mayer; and brothers-in-law, Jim Olson and George Branstad.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 14, 2019 at Grace Lutheran Church in Austin. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery, Austin. Memorials can be directed to Grace Lutheran Church in Austin or Grandview Cemetery Association - Austin. Services are prearranged and performed with Worlein Funeral Home of Austin.