Norma Bernice Nelson

Norma Bernice Nelson, the daughter of Andrew C. and Helga (Leistad) Lange, was born January 30, 1928 at her parents’ farm 3 miles west of Elk Horn, Iowa and 1 mile south and died June 5, 2017, at the Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, Iowa at the age of 89 years, 4 months, and 5 days.
Norma was baptized and confirmed at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, Iowa. Norma attended rural Audubon County schools then graduated from the Elk Horn High School with the Class of 1945. She later received her Bachelor’s Degree from Drake University in 1968. Norma taught rural schools in Clay Township #2 and #3 in Shelby County, Iowa.
On January 30, 1949, she was united in marriage to Richard Nelson at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. They were blessed with three children Ned, Julie, and Natalie. Norma continued teaching rural schools then taught 4th grade in the Elk Horn Community Schools until she retired after over 30 years of teaching.
Norma was an active member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Danish Windmill Association, a life-time member of the National Education Association, and a charter member of the Shelby County Historical Society. In 1999 Norma and Richard received the honor of being named the King and Queen of Elk Horn’s Tivoli Fest. Norma was a long-time volunteer at the Family History Center of the Danish Immigrant Museum and was proud to be a co-author of the Elk Horn Community History Book.
Preceding her in death was her daughter Julie N. Hansen; her parents; her brothers Jack and wife Helga Lange and Mark Lange; and her sister Vera and husband Elvin Holtz.
Survivors include her husband of 68 years, Richard Nelson of Elk Horn, Iowa; her children Ned Nelson of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Natalie Nelson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; her grandchildren Keeli Nelson and husband Eric Scott of Lawrence, Kansas, Brandon Nelson of Clear Lake, Iowa, Jillayne Nelson of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Justin Hansen of Shelby, North Carolina; her great grandchildren Sabina Scott of Lawrence, Kansas and Harlan Hansen of Shelby, North Carolina; her brother Russell and wife Joan Lange of Elk Horn, Iowa; her sister Carolyn and husband Joe Mason of White Lake, Michigan; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
The family will meet with friends Wednesday evening June 7, 2017, from 5:00 P.M until 7:00 P.M. at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Keith Menter on Thursday morning, June 8, 2017, at 10:30 A.M. at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery. The honorary casket bearers will be Lori Lange Thomas and Aaron Mason. The casket bearers will be Tim Fredericksen, Chris Fredericksen, Gary Martens, Gerry Greve, Bryan Greve, and Dave Greve. The family prefers memorials to the Family History Center of the Danish Immigrant Museum.