Helen Nelson

Helen L. Nelson Devoted Mom, loved teaching, dancing and playing cards Broken Bow, NE- Helen Nelson age 85 of Broken Bow died Thursday June 23, 2011 at Jennie M. Melham Memorial Medical Center in Broken Bow. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday June 28, 2011 at 2:00 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary in Broken Bow. Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery. Govier Bros. Mortuary of Broken Bow is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be held on Monday June 27, 2011, 8 AM to 8 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary with the family greeting friends 5 PM to 7 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary. Memorials have been established to the Eastern Star. Helen Louise Nelson, daughter of James and Alvena (Peterson) Erazim of Hazard, Nebraska was born on April 1, 1926. Helen was born and raised at the family home in Hazard. She attended the Hazard Methodist Church and Sunday School. Helen graduated from Hazard High School in 1943. After graduation she attended Kearney State College (now called the University of Nebraska at Kearney) to acquire a Teachers Certificate. She taught country schools in Sherman and Buffalo counties for five years. On September 3, 1949 she was united in marriage to Ivan D. Nelson by the Reverend James S. Chubb at the Methodist Church in Grand Island, Nebraska. To this union two children were born; - Judy Lynn of Grandview, Missouri and Thomas James of Lakewood, Colorado. Ivan and Helen made their home in Broken Bow, Nebraska. She spent the early years working in offices outside of the home for several local employers; - namely the Custer County Chief, Kansas-Nebraska Gas Company, Meston Motor Company, and the Welfare Office. She was a member and Past Matron of the Eastern Star #164 and a past President of Past Matrons Club. For several years she was a member of the Cosmo pals; and also a Canasta and Pinochle Club. She was a member and past President of the Broken Bow Swingin Squares, square dance club. Later she was a member and past Secretary-Treasurer of the Anselmo-Merna Wagon- Wheelers Square and Round Dance Club. Dancing was one of her joys in life and as a child her tap-dancing was part of many school entertainment programs. Survivors include her daughter Judy Lynn and son-in-law David Colard of Grandview, MO, and son Thomas James Nelson of Lakewood, CO. She was preceded in death by her husband Ivan in February of 2011, and a sister Erma Kestler of Wichita, Kansas.