Trudy Nelson

Gertrude "Trudy" (McConnell) Nelson Trudy Nelson went home to God at age ninety-seven, on December 24th, 2021, while a resident at Samaritan Bethany in Rochester. She had resided there for a number of years after a debilitating stroke. Trudy was born to Samuel and Catherine (Marum) McConnell on April 13th, 1924 in Rochester. One of nine siblings, she grew up on the farm in Orion Township, attended the District #117 country school until 8th grade, then attended Chatfield High School and graduated in 1942. After working at a bank in Stewartville for a short time, she went to the U.S. Weather Bureau and was stationed at an airfield in Indianapolis. When World War Two ended she moved to Rochester but stayed with the Weather Bureau, then attended Rochester Junior College and also the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in Recreation Leadership. In 1951 Trudy moved to Washington and started working in Recreation for the U.S. Army at Fort Lawton. That lead to a six-year stint with the U.S. Army Special Services running recreation centers and clubs for the troops at three locations in the USA and another three in Germany. Her Army years sparked a life-long love of travel. In 1957 she left the Army and returned home to Minnesota. She then worked for the Girl Scouts for the next fourteen years with a year off in the middle to fulfill a desire to live in Mexico. In 1972 Trudy met widower John W. Nelson and they were married on August 5th, 1972. John and Trudy lived in Wells, Minnesota where John worked as a teacher at the Wells-Easton High School. They lived in Wells until John retired in the 1980s, spending their summers at their "up-north" cabin on Mule Lake outside Outing. In the mid-1980s they sold their house in Wells, then the cabin, then moved to Tucson, Arizona. John passed away on August 30th, 1993. Trudy stayed in Arizona for a number of years and then moved back to Rochester. After suffering major health issues, Trudy moved into Arbor Terrace and later to Samaritan Bethany. Trudy loved writing and while living in Rochester in her later years she greatly enjoyed poetry and writing groups she became members of. She authored two books; "Three-O Or So" about her life from 1942 to 1972, and "Growing Up With.. Catherine and Sam", about her family and their life growing up on the farm. Both are treasured family histories. Keeping in touch with family and friends around the country was a passion of hers and she always enjoyed visits and visitors. She was a staunch Democrat, enjoyed talking politics, and always followed her Minnesota Twins. She took an active interest in her grand-kids and her many nieces and nephews. Trudy was preceded in death by her husband John, step-son William J. Nelson, her parents, her siblings and their spouses; brothers Jerome (Dorothy), Nic (Margaret and Shirley), Jean (Katherine), Lawrence (Hazel), Fabian (Ethel), Sylvester "Red" (Charlotte), Matt (Rita and Betty), and brother-in-law Paul Walsh. She was survived by her sister Connie Walsh who passed away August 25th, 2025, and sister-in-law Betty McConnell (Matt) who passed away July 12th, 2025. She is survived by step-daughters Kathy Zinniel and Janet (Bill) Starke, step-son Richard "Rick", step-daughter in law Sally Nelson, step-grandchildren Jeff (Kim) Soost, Scott (Stephanie) Soost, great grand-children April Soost (Cole McDonough), Kendal, Toby, and Reece Soost, as well as great-great grandson Sage McDonough. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Trudy's wish was that her earthly remains be donated to the Mayo Clinic for science, which was carried out. Her cremains will be interred at Oakwood Cemetery. A special thanks to niece Barb (Walsh) Kirchhof being there for Trudy in her later years, as well as to the staff at Samaritan Bethany and Arbor Terrace, and those at St. Pius Church. A Memorial Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 28, 2025 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1315 12th Ave. NW, Rochester. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.mackenfuneralhome.com