Kathryn Nelson

ALBION - Kathryn I. Nelson 77, of rural Albion, passed away Tuesday, February 5, 2013, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 9, 2013, at Immanuel Zion Lutheran Church, in rural Albion, with Rev. Michael Kern officiating.  Interment will follow at the Immanuel Zion South Branch Cemetery.  

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. today at Levander Funeral Home in Albion.  

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.levanderfuneralhome.com.

Kathy was born May 30, 1935, to (John) 'Harold' and Mildred (Atwater) Clipston at their home near Albion, and was raised on the Clipston Farm west of Albion where she attended Districts 25 and 21 through the eighth grade.  She attended Albion High School and graduated in 1952.  The following year, she began teaching school at District 21 and attended Wayne State College during two summers and through evening classes to earn a Teacher's Certificate.  In 1956, she married Roger Donovan Nelson, also of Albion, at the First Baptist Church, in Albion, and lived on the Nelson Farm northeast of Albion.  She taught school at District 83 near their farm for three years.  For many years following, she raised her children and helped manage the Nelson Farm.  Later in life, she served over fifteen years as a Teacher's Aide at Districts 57 and 13 in Boone County and District 95 south of Tilden.

Throughout her life, Kathy also worked at many other endeavors, including at The Albion Donut Shop, delivering the Albion Shopper on a rural route, and teaching piano lessons for over 40 years.  She had many hobbies including music, genealogy and family history, cooking, gardening, sewing, socializing with her friends and taking care of her pets, but her greatest ambitions in life revolved around her family and their activities.  She was a faithful member of Immanuel-Zion Lutheran Church where she served as organist for well over 50 years.  More recently, she assisted with church secretary duties and was actively involved in the Women of ELCA, holding several officer positions.

She is survived by her four children and their spouses,  Kevin and Kay Nelson, and Rodney and Traci Nelson, all of Albion, Karla and David Rohwer, of Columbus; and Ritch and Kara Nelson, of rural Davey near Lincoln; a former daughter-in-law; 16 grandchildren; and three great-grand children; a brother and sister-in-law, Dale and Gail Clipston, of Hadar; and a brother-in-law, Larrie Stone, of Blair.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Roger; her parents; and a sister-in-law, Norma (Nelson) Stone.