Kathryn J. Nelson

Kathryn Nelson, age 103 of Ulen passed away August 12, 2025, at Viking Manor Nursing Home in Ulen. Kathryn Fuglie Nelson was born January 30, 1922, to Melvin and Mamie Fuglie. She grew up on a farm near Ulen and graduated from Ulen High School.

Kathryn was united in marriage to Orlyn Nelson on January 13, 1944, when Orlyn was home on leave from Basic Training. Together they were in Omaha, where she was a housekeeper for the captain until Orlyn was deployed to Europe during WWII. Kathryn returned to Ulen and worked at Henry Gibsons Grocery; they saved their earnings to purchase their farm in rural Ulen when Orlyn was discharged from the Army.

Together, they had four children, Donald, Joyce, Joy and Douglas. They continued to farm, Kathryn taking an active role in the farming operation and raising her children, a heavy task as her daughter Joyce was born with a severe disability.

Kathryn was creative, sewed beautifully, quilted with precise detail, mastering the knitting machine, rosemaling, and hardanger. She was an excellent cook, gardened and mowed her own lawn well into her 90’s.

She enjoyed traveling with Orlyn, and after his death, she and her sister Janice traveled together.

Kathryn was a lifelong active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and had an impressive knowledge of the Bible.

Kathryn was preceded in death by her husband Orlyn, daughter Joyce, granddaughters Erin Joy Stumbo and LeAnn Stumbo Moos, brothers Earl, Ole, Raymond, Winton and Harry, sister Janice, sisters-in-law Marion Fuglie and Lorraine Fuglie, and brother-in-law Manford Dokken.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Donald (Victoria) Nelson, Joy (David) Stumbo, Douglas (Nancy) Nelson, five grandchildren, Wendy (Michael) Ring, LeAnn’s husband Eric, Michael Stumbo (Megan), Janie (Josh) Trutwin, Luke (Shayla) Nelson; nine great grandchildren, Natalie, Mackenzie, and Kylie Trutwin, Walter, Hank and Ruthie Nelson, Zachary Moos, Maddie (Trevor) Haugo, and Nicholas Ring, and one great great grandchild Elsie Jean Haugo, sister-in-law Ardith Fuglie, and many other loving family and friends.

A celebration of life will be at 11:00 on August 21, 2025, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ulen, with visitation starting at 9:30.

A special thank you for the loving care Kathryn received at Northern Lights Assisted Living and Viking Manor Nursing Home in Ulen, and the recent Hospice Care.