Lorena May Nelson

Lorena Mae Nelson passed into God’s arms on the 9th of January, 2020, leaving us memories which we will forever treasure. She was born April 9, 1919 to Lee and Ethel Kingery in Kimball, SD. She was the 2nd of 7 children. Her childhood was spent in Kimball, during the drought, dustbowl and grasshopper years. She graduated from high school there as valedictorian. While in college she met Clarence Nelson from Homedale, Idaho. After teaching school for one year in a one room schoolhouse with five grades, she and Clarence were married August 14, 1939.

They bought a farm south of Adrian, Oregon, and took it out of sagebrush. They lived there for 27 years, mostly milking cows, and raising potatoes and alfalfa seed. Their five children grew up there and attended Adrian schools. Lorena was an instructional assistant for a number of years there.

After selling the farm in 1967 the family moved to Ontario, OR. There Lorena was a bookkeeper for Nelson Pump and Motor and Hoff Building Center. She and Clarence retired together and spent many years working their large garden, raising many flowers, and taking long camping trips.

Lorena was very active in her church in Adrian. She always taught Sunday School classes and for years was music director. She loved music, loved to sing, and for years she and Clarence sang duets for church and community activities. She played the guitar, accordion, piano, and organ. She loved to sew, making most of the clothes for herself and her family. She made many quilts, giving dozens of them away. Lorena loved to crochet, making many doilies, scarves, dolls, afghans, and especially baby afghans. She loved painting. Her walls were covered with pictures she had painted. She had a big doll collection. In her later years she loved driving her friends to church and lunch buddies.

Lorena was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, two sons, Eddie and Danny, her parents, 3 brothers and 2 sisters. Survivors include her sister, Blanche Wright of Kimball SD, two sons, Chuck (Jill), Norm (Gayle), and a daughter Nancy (Ron Cornett) all of Ontario. She leaves 9 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at the Ontario Church of the Nazarene Friday January 31, 2020 at 3 pm with Pastor Tim Brewer officiating. Private burial will be held before the service. The family would like to thank Wellsprings and Heart and Home Hospice for the gentle and precious care they gave her. It will forever be appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made on behalf of Lorena Nelson to Mission Aviation Fellowship at PO Box 47, Nampa ID 83653. Thank you.

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