Norval Helmer Nelson

1926 - 2021

Norval Helmer Nelson, Sr, was born April 2, 1926 in Onalaska, Washington to Arnt Hilmer Sjoning Nilsen of Bodø, Norway and Selma Elizabeth (Holmblad) Nilsen of Bergsjõ, Sweden.  Norval is the grandson of Linhart Nilsen, Christina Toresen-Nilsen of Tromso, Norway and Mr. & Mrs. Peter Holmblad of Bergsjõ, Sweden. In 1927, the Holmblads witnessed Norval's baptism at Trinity Lutheran Church, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
 
In 1929, the Nilsens (Arnt, Selma, brother Axel and Norval) moved to Alaska where they homesteaded 16 acres on the beach near the mouth of Fish Creek, North Douglas.  They built a modest one bedroom home, outhouse, boat shop and tool shed overlooking Fish Creek, Mendenhall Glacier, Fritz Cove and Chilkat Range. The wide-open beaches, berries, fish, game, sea creatures and geese made the homestead paradise. 
 
The Nilsens preserved their vegetable crops in the root cellar dugout just above the tideline where they also stored salted herring, cod, salmon, halibut and deer meat.  Winters were longer then and the snow falls greater but the Swedish pancakes and Lutefisk cooked atop the wood stove, the crackling and popping 50 gallon barrel wood burner furnace, flickering kerosene lanterns, warm patchwork quilts, fresh water drawn from under chopped ice, starry nights, moonlit snow covered beaches and a candle lit Christmas tree made winters memorable.  When just a boy, a close neighbor, Lawrence Swanson, called Norval "Ole" and it stuck from then on.
 
Ole and his brother Axel worked alongside their father to build on the beach the family's first fishing boat-the F/V Saga--with trolling poles made from nearby spruce trees.
 
"Back in those days, my dad would tie a rope to a can of lard to read the depth and if the ocean floor was sandy or rocky.  I remember when I was 14, sleeping under the deck of the Saga with Axel.  I hated waking up to the sound of the old man starting up the engine to pull in the halibut gear.  When the sun would rise, I would look for Fish Creek Mountain from Benjamin Island, Lincoln Island, Vanderbilt Reef, Hump Island, St. James Bay, Little Island Light. I was so homesick.  I missed my mom.  I argued with my dad that I would never, ever become a fisherman but here I am in my nineties. Life is funny like that."
 
Every deer season, Ole, Arnt and Axel camped atop Fish Creek Mountain as did Ole years later with his son Norval Jr. and nephews.  Long before a road was built from 5-Mile North Douglas to Fish Creek, Ole and his family rowed their skiff to Fritz Cove Road or over the bar to go to town for staples.  Ole trampled waist high snow from home to the Fish Creek School with classmates Axel Nilsen, Lawrence Swanson, Violet Maki, Ed Maki, Chuck McCleod, Melvin Daroff.
 
Ole was good with numbers; an avid reader of non-fiction, particularly fond of Alaska stories of wartime, fishing, hunting, and aviation.  His teacher talked Ole into moving to Tenakee to finish his last year where he met longtime and surviving friend Ole Taug, Sr.
 
In 1944, Ole followed in his father's footsteps and enlisted in the U.S. Army.  It was then Ole's surname was changed from "Nilsen" to "Nelson".  He was excited to see the world. Nearing the end of boot camp, Ole contracted pneumonia and was "sacked" in the infirmary. He forever lamented his fellow troops leaving him behind when they were deployed to Europe (including Axel Nelson, Frank Wright, Sr., Jack Pasquan, Richard Bean, Sr.).  Ole, instead, was stationed in remote Kuluk Bay, Adak Island.  He quickly moved up the ranks, but turned down another term to restore the battle grounds overseas.  He missed his mother, homestead and fishing.  He was honorably and duly discharged as T-Sergeant Fourth Grade, Army of the United States, January 1947. Ole proudly hung his military record certifying "Private Norval H. Nelson: Qualified in Arms: Sharpshooter: Excellent, 208th Infantry." 
 
Shortly after returning to Juneau, Ole met and married Virginia Kochergin, a strikingly beautiful Unangan woman who, with her parents (Helen and Peter Kochergin) and family, had recently been permitted to leave a WWII internment camp. Years prior, in 1942, the U.S. Navy forcibly removed the Kochergins from their St. Paul, Alaska home and transported them via the Gulf of Alaska to Funter Bay.
 
Ole and Virginia had four children:  Jennifer, Norval Jr., Elizabeth (Betty Jean), and Maryann.  When they divorced, Ole became a single-parent of Norval Jr.
 
In the 50's, Ole longlined halibut (.05 cents per pound), sable fish (.03 cents per pound), rock cod, and trolled and seined salmon, pot fished king and tanner crab.  Ole, Tom Malone, Boyer Weacon, Andy Weacon, Johnny Hinchman, Sr., Frank Wright, Sr., and Richard Bean first started king crab commercial fishing on the "north end". 
 
When not fishing, Ole swung a hammer and poured cement with Juneau builders Bill Mann, Ralph Graham, William Tonsgard, Sr., Hanna & Winn, Bill Paddock, Tom Paddock, Sr., Doug Lough, Doug Wahto, Jerry Radcliff, Charlie Schneider, Bill Stalknecker, Sid Smith, Triplett & Trucano and good friend Jerry from Kodiak.  "They were all big crab eaters." 
 
Before Ole's father died in 1966 from an illness related to his service in the U.S. Army, WWI, Arnt and Ole built two homes at 5 and a quarter mile North Douglas so that Selma could live close to Ole and near a road.
 
Ole captained the F/V Saga, F/V Nova, F/V Silverspray, F/V Sparrow Castle, F/V Vermont, F/V Curlew.  
 
In 1974, Ole and his son Norvie bought the 82 foot crabber F/V Aleut Princess from Kodiak.  His friends Bill Mooney, Jay Mooney, and Larry Hammer had to be Ole's eyes on the crow nest and rigging as he cautiously navigated the Aleut under the Juneau-Douglas bridge.  The Aleut may have been the first and largest vessel ever to moor in Harris and Aurora Harbor.  Joe Akagi, friend and mechanic, helped Ole maintain the old Waukesha engine on the Aleut.
In the 90's, he partnered with his son in the investment of the F/V Christian, F/V Victory, Bristol Bay gillnet permits and vessels F/V Double Eagle and F/V St. Elias.   
 
Ole's all-business nature began to change significantly when he first became grandpa to granddaughter Norene, then Norval III, Nicholas and Asia and every grandchild thereafter.  His love of them softened him in all the right places.  Quite uncommon then, Ole relinquished an age-old fisherman superstition "no women, no children onboard" and endured years of tripping over Tonka toys, curling iron cords, and kid X-tra Tuff boots.  Ole hung a tire swing from the boat rigging which helped keep the children out of his hair.  He also trained them to become deckhands and imparted his knowledge of the waters from the Aleutian Chain, to the Gulf of Alaska, and every hot spot in southeast Alaska.
 
Ole fished for crab up until he was 93 – atop the flying bridge of the F/V Christian in frigid rolling seas and snow storms.  He was never idle.
 
Every Memorial Day and Veterans Day, Ole visited the Evergreen Cemetery and affixed a U.S. Flag on the grave of his father Arnt Nilsen, friend Lawrence Swanson and his co-patriarch of the Cadiente-Nelson family – Andres Aquino Cadiente, Sr.
 
After several months of stormy seas and gale force winds, Ole courageously crossed over the River of Life on a calm, cold, clear, beaver moon evening, November 19, 2021, "He followed the snow-covered beach all the way to Fish Creek to heaven."
 
He was preceded in death by his former wife Virginia Kochergin, second wife Joanne Hammer, parents Arnt & Selma Nilsen, brother Axel (Bonnie) Nelson, sister Agny Nilsen-Sandnes and sister Randi Nilsen-Sandnes of Norway, nephew Dale Nelson, grandsons Blake Sanford,  Jimmy Locher, U.S. Army Combat Medic Gavin Lee, great-grandsons Cody Dennis and Emmanuel Noel Moala; most all of his closest friends including but not limited to: Lawrence Swanson, John Holmberg, Micky Bryson, Lou & Ella Hicks, Ed Maki, Joe Smatlan, William & Barbara Fawcett, Vern (Dolores Cadiente) Hardin, Albert Wallace, Sr., Chris McNeil, Sr., Carl Steindahl, Dick Workman, Danny Moreno, George Okigawa, Bobby Schaefer, Martin Skrzynski, Frank Wright, Sr., Richard Bean, Sr., Johnny Hinchman, Sr., Larry Pusich, Kenny & Cathy McGee, Roy & Asunta Hill, Sr., Benny Johnson, Tommy Osborne, Everett Buchanan, Fred Birch, Doug Wahto, Doug Lough, Jack & Edie Trambitas, Bill Spaulding, Warren Hanes, Bob Hanes, Benny & Peachy Melvin, Bill Mann, Jerry Radcliffe, Bill Tonsgard, Ralph Graham, Charlie Tubbs, Ed Haffner, Mick Haffner, Hank Hines, Bill Graves, Wayne Alex, Henry Oxwald, Fred Baxter, Sr., Paul Rudolph, Larry Hammer, Art & Evelyn Sanford, Lawence & Ruby Jackson, Kathy & Bill Ruddy, Dr. Akiyama, Dr. Joseph Riederer, Mike Thompson, Johnny Ebona, crewmen U.S.C.G. EMT Charles Cadiente, Dave Hanlon, Al Hanlon, Mike Skrzynski, Dana White, Paul Pavlik, U.S.M.C. Michael Larsen, U.S. Army Greg Bowen and all of U.S. Army Troops, 208th Infantry.
 
He is survived by his son Capt. Norval E. (Barbara Cadiente) Nelson, Jr., daughters Jennifer Coughlin, Elizabeth Siegert, Maryann Sanford, Ray (Jensine) Lee, Mike Lee, grandchildren Norene (Ret. U.S.N. Ricardo Smith) Nelson, F/V Star of Sea Capt. Norval Nelson III, F/V Trinity Capt. Nicholas (Suzette) Nelson, Nemasia (Barry) Moala, Misty (Brian) Dennis, Dotty Coughlin, Ben (Marcy) Lee, Derrick Lee, Rebecca Bernier, Dawn Nelson; great grandchildren Dominique (Aurissa) Brinson, Miquelle (U.S.N. OSI SW Jonathan) Dawson, Aquino (Amber) Brinson, U.S.M.C. L.C. Norval Nelson IV, U.S.N. Et3 Lyle Nelson, Elsie Nelson, Nilsen Nelson, Nina Nelson, Isaiah Nelson, Christian Nelson, Micah Nelson, Sebastian Ole Nelson, Augustus Nelson, Zion Moala, great-greats J. Makai Dawson, Jaiden Dawson, Trey Brinson, Drake Brinson, Michael Sexton, Jeffrey Dennis, Carlee Adams, Denali Coughlin, Zoey Dennis, Madison Adams, Jaxon Adams, Gabriel Sexton Kayden Sexton, Caius Dennis, Henna Coughlin, Xavier Sexton; Zoe Lee, Roman Lee, Samuel Lee, Serenity Lee, nephews Arthur Nelson, Thomas (Wendy) Nelson, Jerry Nelson, nieces Linnea Mayer (Amanda, Travis & Axel), Tammy Hayes, Kyle Nelson; family in Bo-Tomslo, Norway and Bergsjõ, Sweden and in-law Irene A. Cadiente and family.
 
A few honorable mention of old timer fishing captains still standing are Kenny Grant, Albert Strom, Clarence (Andrea) Laiti, Vernon (Jeanne) Hill, Bill Thomas, Thomas "Sonny" Williams, John Pavlik, Rudy Pavlik, Gil Gunderson, Thomas Jack, Paul Dybdahl, Charlie Christiansen, Dick Gregg, Bob Slighter, Joe Donahue, Bud Samuelson, Ken McGee, Don (Mary) Kaulk, Jake Phillips, Scotty McCallister, Jim (Patty) Phillips, Ron (Judy) Nyman, Bernie (Linnea) Osborne and fish plant managers Troy Denkinger, Terry Berry, Hugh Rietz, Gary Moore, Mike Forbush, Eric Norman, Jerry Nogle; neighbors Russel Peterson, Jewel Huff; hunting partner Dick Johnson and Andy Cadiente, Jr.; his crew Hank Mortel, Brick Lobaugh, Carling Cadiente, Sr., Vaughn (Selena Beierly) Chilton, Brian Cassalery, James Young, Adam Furlong, Sassie Miller, Tim Ackerman, Victor Voit, Sam Kokotovich, Darrell Harmon, Knute Felipe, Dave Skrzynski, Alex White, Jerry Milton, James Tyler Westford, James Moritz, Larry Siverly, Barry Moala, U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran George Lindoff, Darrell Brown, Darnell Brinson, Steve Younger and Stephen.
 
Our utmost respect to Dr. Don Schneider who Ole regarded as his own; to Bartlett Hospital doctors and nurses; to niece Linnea Mayer and Hospice for comforting him.  Heartfelt thanks to Fr. Pat Casey, Fr. Perry Kenaston, and Deacon Charles Rohrbacher for ministering to Ole and family.
 
A burial service will be held in the spring 2022 at Evergreen Cemetery where Ole will be laid to rest beside Arnt, Selma and Axel.
 
Stories of Ole would be greatly appreciated from fishers and friends.  Send to Norval Nelson, Jr. 1625 Fritz Cove Road, Juneau, Ak 99801 (907-723-5334).  Memorial

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y9b6lSjvbI