Carol J. Nelson

A private gathering will be held to celebrate the life of Carol Nelson of Verndale and formerly of California. Carol, age 74, died unexpectedly of natural causes on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at the Astera Health Hospital at Wadena, MN. Carol Joy Dahl was born to Conrad and Ella (Eng) Dahl on September 12, 1950, in Minneapolis, MN. She attended school in Minneapolis and Wisconsin, but left school early to start a family. She spent many years as a homemaker, raising her children in Minnesota before leaving for Colorado. On August 24, 2984, she married Donald R. Nelson at Washington Park in Denver. They moved to California, where she lived for sometime before losing her husband. Soon after, in 2015, she traveled to Verndale, MN to visit family and decided to stay. A free spirit, Carol loved life and lived it to the fullest. She enjoyed music, snapping pictures, flowers & plants, watching birds, and soaking in a beautiful sunset. Later in life, she found comfort with her cat "Blue Eyes". She was giving, even when she had little. She loved her family big and will be missed tremendously. Best of all, she trusted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. We will see her again. Preceding Carol in death were her husband, Don; parents, Conrad and Ella Dahl; sister Donna Schultz; grandson Maddox Ritch; and nephew Joseph Schultz. Carol is survived by her children: Dawn (Danny) Fisher of Verndale, Michele Arrington of Nashville, TN, Carrie Paccione of Huntersville, NC, Kenny Nelson of South Dakota and Christine Nelson of California; 7 grandchildren and12 great-grandchildren; brother Kenneth (Monica) Dahl of Riverside, CA; along with the many friends she made in Verndale and at the Village Green apartments. Honorary urn bearers are her grandchildren Collin, Cole, Daniel, Casey, Christian, Carmen, and Jerrelle. Memorials in Carol's name may be directed to The Salvation Army (give.salvationarmyusa.org)