Mervin "Merv" Elliott Nelson

Mervin Elliott Nelson, age 102, passed peacefully on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Heather Haus Assisted Living in Blooming Prairie after a long and fulfilling life. Merv was born on February 22, 1923 at his home about five miles north of Walnut, Iowa to Tony and Dagmar (Rold) Nelson. He grew up in southwest Iowa as his father farmed and raised pigs.

After graduation in 1940, his family moved to a farm in Minnesota in 1945. Farming here was a bit different as in Iowa they never raised soybeans or used fertilizer. While farming, Merv caught his hand in the husking bed of a corn picker as he tried to pull corn silk out. He ended up losing a couple fingers on his right hand in the process.

After the war, he ordered a Plymouth Club Coop Two Door from Hubert at Srsen Auto in Blooming Prairie. He would drive it to Rochester with his friends to visit with the nurses. Merv met his wife, Berniece "Bernie" who was an RN there at the time. They dated, married in 1957 and raised three rambunctious boys on the family farm. At 95 years old, Merv combined 800 acres of corn. The fall of 2020, Merv made the move from the farm to town and enjoyed life at the Heather Haus until the time of his passing. 

Merv enjoyed many things over the years: riding bike to town in the evenings, watching sporting events, coffee and games with friends, driving to Arizona to escape the Minnesota winters, trips to Germany and Alaska, Bernie's amazing cooking and baking, playing shuffle board, keeping up on events as he read the Star Tribune, and reading western books from the library where many of the books bear his initials as a sign he had read them.

Merv will be remembered for his extreme generosity, his happy countenance, quick smile and laugh, his adoration for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the way his eyes lit up when he saw them. Merv was a treasure and so dearly loved by all who knew him.

He was thankful for the promise of Heaven and looked forward to joining his loved ones that had gone before him, including his parents, wife, Berniece in 2017; son, Rodney in 2009; grandson, Anthony in 2019; siblings, other family and friends.

Left to cherish his memory are his sons and their families, Brian (Lois) Nelson, their two daughters, Alicia (Derek) Levno, their children, Owen and Maren, and Lynnae (Tony) Walters, their children, Isaiah, Emiiya and Chase, Bruce (Amy) Nelson and their son, Elliott; daughter-in-law, Rozann (Lance Ingvaldson) Nelson and their daughters, Amber, Ashley Nelson, and Jenna (Chad) Behnke, their children, Sophia and Hayden.

A Celebration of Life will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at First Baptist Church in Blooming Prairie. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Danish Baptist Cemetery in Blooming Prairie. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers the family requests you spread love and kindness wherever you may go.

The death of people whom we love 
Brings sorrow and deep pain,
But if our loved ones know the Lord,
Our loss becomes their gain.
- Sper