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Benton County, Iowa Obituaries
Blairstown Press?; October 1936
Last Rites Held for Earl Nelson Death Occurred At Pine Knoll Sanatorium Thursday
Earl Fred Nelson

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at the Presbyterian church in charge of Rev. J.C.B. Peck for Earl F. Nelson who died Thursday, Oct 8 at Pine Knoll Sanatorium at Davenport. The deceased had been ill since last February and confined in the hospital for the past six months. Earl F. Nelson, son of Fred and Mary Nelson was born Nov. 17, 1906 in Blairstown and grew to manhood here. He graduated from the Blairstown high school with the class of 1926 and after graduation he was employed as section hand on the Northwestern railroad out of Blairstown where he worked until ill health forced him to quit. He leaves to mourn his early departure, his widow, Mrs. Ila Nelson, two sons, Richard and Norman, his mother Mrs. Mary F. Nelson, six sisters, Mrs. Fred Cramer of Cedar Rapids, Mar Armour Bunnell of Galesburg, Mrs. Agnes Siebring, Mrs. Clara Rostenberger, Miss Louise Nelson all of Peoria, Ill, Mrs. Meleta Kichner of Medill, Mo. Three brothers Walter of Blairstown, Axel and Floyd at Peoria, also numerous other relatives and friends. Burial was in Pleasant Hill cemetery. Mrs. Geo. Edwards sang - (unable to read the names of the songs).

{Submitter comment: Earl Fred Nelson is the son of Ferdinand and Mary Nelson. His maternal grandparents are Maren (Hanson) Smyth Arvidson and Peter Smyth. His step grandfather is Anders Arvidson. His paternal grandparents are Carin (Karen/Carolin) (Nilsdotter) Arvidson and Niels Christensen. His paternal step grandfather is Per (Peter) Arvidson.}

Submitted on Oct 18, 2007 by
Debra Nelson Cline, desirees@embarqmail.com

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Maybe "Blairstown Press"; Approx 17-19 August 1943
Pneumonia claims Mrs. Mary Nelson. Deceased woman came to Benton County from Denmark.
Mary Katherine Nelson

Mrs. Mary K. Nelson, 77, died at her home in Blairstown Monday at 8:10 a.m. She had been ill six days and death resulted from pneumonia.

As Mary Smyth, daughter of Marne and Peter Smyth, she was born at Copenhagen, Denmark Aug 14, 1866. She came to the United States with her parents at the age of 10 yrs. and the family located on a farm in the Luzerene community. She was bapitized in the Lutheran faith early in life.

At the age of 16, in 1882, she was married to Fernand Nelson who died in 1918. They were the parents of 11 children, nine of whom survive. They are Mrs. Tina Cramer of Cedar Rapids, Mrs Maggie Bunnell of Canton, Il., Walter, who has lived at home with his mother in Blairstown, Axel of Peoria, Il, Mrs. Agnes Crouse of Hicksville, Oh, Mrs Clara Roethlisberger, Louise Nelson, and Floyd all of Peoria, IL and Mrs. Meleta Kirchner of Medill, Mo. There are also 17 grandchildren.

Two sons preceded their mother in death after reaching manhood. These were Harry and Earl of Blairstown. Mrs Nelson reared her large family and she also found time to assit in the sick rooms where her services might be needed. During the past few years she lived quietly in her own house here with her son Walter. Three of her children were with her when she passed away. Walter, Mrs. Tina Cramer and Mrs. Maggie Bunnell, the latter 2 having been called home by her illness.

Funderal services were conducted at the Cranston funeral parlors in Blairstown Wed. afternoon at 2:30 in charge of the Rev. J.C.B. Peck and burial was in Pleasant Hill cemetery south of Blairstown.

In her funeral book:
In memory of Mary Katherine Nelson
Born: Aug 14, 1866
Died: Aug 16, 1943
Age at death 77 yrs, 0 mo., 2 days
Services 2:30 p.m. Aug 18, 1943, Blairstown, Iowa.

{Submitter comment: Mary Katherine Nelson was also known as Maren Cretina(Danish spelling)Arvidson/Arvedson. }

Submitted on Apr 15, 2007 by
Debra Nelson Cline, desirees@embarqmail.com

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