Ethel Velma Nelson

Ethel Velma Nelson, the daughter of Chris and Vernal (McMurphy) Andersen, was born August 19, 1916, at her parents home in Douglas Township, Audubon County, Iowa and died February 11, 2011, at the Scottsdale Osborn Hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 94 years, 5 months, and 22 days.
Ethel was baptized June 3, 1917, at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa and later confirmed. She attended rural school, Douglas #3, and then lived at home and helped her parents farm.
On April 3, 1935, she was united in marriage to Glen J. Huffman. One daughter Joyce Ann was born to this union. Ethel was a home maker for many years and helped Glen operate their farm. Later she was employed as a cook and waitress at the Holiday Caf and Garys Family Caf in Audubon. In 1975 Ethel moved into Audubon.
On December 18, 1981, she married Merle E. Nelson at the Methodist Church in Paradise Valley, Arizona. They enjoyed their home in Audubon and spent the winters at their home in Apache Junction, Arizona. For many years Ethel and Merle were representatives for the J.F. Bloom Monument Company in Omaha, Nebraska. They also loved to play Bingo and traveled to wherever they could find a game. Merle died on September 29, 2005. Ethel enjoyed her home then later moved to the Friendship Village Apartments in 2006.
Ethel was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon.
She was preceded in death by her husband Merle; her parents Chris and Vernal; her sister Lorene and husband Elmer Mortensen; her brother Manuel and wife Velmo Andersen; her sister-in-law Elaine Nelson;and her nephew Merlyn (Mort) Mortensen.
Survivors include her daughter Joyce and husband Gerald Young; her grandchildren Sherrie Jo Young, Douglas Young, Jerry and wife Michelle Young all of Phoenix, Arizona; her great grandchildren Brandon Christensen of Sahuarita, Arizona, Alycia Christensen of Phoenix; her step children Janet and husband Jerald Nelson of Des Moines, Iowa, Norman and wife Marilyn Nelson of Apache Junction, Arizona, Wyman and wife Laurie Nelson of Blair, Nebraska, David and wife Wanda Nelson of Woodward, Iowa; her sisters-in-law Grace Paulson of Minnesota, Lucille Paulson andRuth Dinesenbothof Harlan, Iowa; her brother-in law Everett Nelson of Audubon; many step grandchildren, nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
The honorary casket bearers will be Terry and Norma Burger, Rick and Kathy Bancroft, Lewis and Betty Buckner, Don and JoAnn Christensen, Helen Mortensen, Everett and Wynona Wendt, and Beverly Huffman.

Memorials:
The family prefers memorials to the Audubon Fire Department.

Cemetery:
The private family interment will be in the Merrills Grove Cemetery near Fiscus, Iowa.

Service:
The Celebration of Life Memorial Services will be conducted by Pastor Jud Stover and Pastor Dwayne Ferguson on Saturday, April 23, 2011, at 10:30 A.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.