Gwen Nelson

1936 - 2025

Gwen Nelson, 89

On October 7th, 2025, Gwen Ida Nelson passed away. Gwen was born in Lonepine, Montana on January 25th, 1936 to William and Kathryn (Andrews) Meuli. She had fond memories of growing up in Lonepine. Her family had milk cows and a root cellar. Gwen considered herself lucky to have her two grandmothers and a grandfather close by. Her family was able to visit them often. Once a month, Gwen and her family would travel down the road about a half mile to have Sunday dinner with her grandparents. Gwen's favorite dinner to request was chicken noodle soup and gooseberry pie. Her grandmother worked very hard, and Gwen's only job was to set the table.

When Gwen was three years old, she was involved in a scary incident. The local newspaper wrote an article about the accident. The article was titled, "Mother and Child Hurt When Cooker Explodes." Gwen was severely burned at their Lonepine home when a pressure cooker exploded. The force of the explosion threw Mrs. Meuli, Gwen's mother, to the floor and Gwen sustained serious burns to her hands and face. They were rushed to a maternity home where Mrs. Meuli gave birth to Gwen's younger sister later that night.

Gwen attended elementary school in Lonepine and later transferred to Hot Springs. She was proud of the education she received from the Hot Springs Schools. When Gwen was in high school she would waitress at the Hot Springs Cafe after the school day was over. She was paid fifty cents an hour. While working at the cafe, Gwen met Virgil Nelson. Virgil would always order oyster stew. Virgil knew Gwen didn't like the oyster stew, and that is why he ordered it. While Gwen was waitressing, Virgil was working at the Y Service Station in Hot Springs. Gwen would visit the station often only filling her tank up with twenty cents worth of fuel at a time. Eventually, Virgil told her to just fill it up. This marked the beginning of Gwen and Virgil's lifelong relationship.

Gwen graduated high school from Hot Springs High in May of 1954. About a year later, Gwen and Virgil moved to Butte, Montana and were married on March 28, 1955. They spent five years in Butte while Virgil worked at the Belmont Mine. Gwen took on the honorable role of homemaker. During this time, they welcomed their three oldest children: Raymond, Kathryn, and Betty. The family then moved to Hilger, Montana. Virgil worked a road construction job. While living in Hilger their family continued to grow with the additions of Sharon, Alan, and Nancy.

In 1970, Virgil and Gwen moved back to Hot Springs to run Gwen's family's gas station. They operated the station for twenty-eight years. After retiring in 1998, Gwen and Virgil stayed in Hot Springs. During this time Gwen enjoyed many hobbies. She sewed clothes for her grandchildren, quilted, made porcelain dolls, crocheted, knitted, and collected family history. Gwen always had a new project close by. Her children and many grandchildren treasure her homemade items. Gwen also spent a lot of time gardening and growing flowers.

Gwen was deeply involved in the Hot Springs community. She was a member of the

Senior Center and VFW. She also dedicated a lot of her time to the LaRue Hot Springs Museum. She enjoyed visiting with others about the history of the Hot Springs and Lonepine areas. Gwen was honored as Grand Marshall for the Hot Springs Homesteader's Day Parade and led the procession in 2018.

In 2020, Virgil and Gwen moved one last time to Manhattan, Montana to be closer to family. Gwen enjoyed watching the chickens in the front yard, listening for the trains, and going on car rides around the Gallatin Valley with her daughter Nancy. Gwen would never turn down an after-dinner ice cream treat. Every evening Gwen and her son in-law, Merle, could be found in the living room enjoying their ice cream. Gwen loved her family very much and enjoyed their visits. Spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren was one of her favorite pastimes.

Gwen is preceded in death by her beloved husband of sixty-seven years, Virgil Nelson; her parents, William and Kathryn Meuli; her brothers, Morris Meuli, and Darrell Meuli; and her sisters, Dora McEneny and Cleyone Meuli.

Gwen is survived by her four daughters, Kathryn, Betty, Sharon, and Nancy; her two sons, Raymond and Alan; her sister, Lillian Cline; her thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.

Raymond (Kelli): Anastasia and Carmen {Jameson and Zoey}; Kathryn (Kent): Logan

{Amelita}; Betty: Stacey (Joesph) {Emeri, Axton, and Bowden}, Dustin (Candace) {Easton and

Wade}, and Jason; Sharon: Inga (Randy) {Bannack and Kessler}, Wyatt, and Cleyone (Craig); Alan (Nedda): Alison (James) {Nina and Falcon}, and Joseph {AnaMae and Serina}; and Nancy (Merle): Katelyn (John) {Clare} and Amelia (Matthew).

Gwen will be laid to rest next to her loving husband at the Creston Cemetery in Creston,

Montana. An evening visitation will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home in Kalispell, Montana. The graveside service will take place at 11:00

a.m. on Monday, October 13, 2025, at Creston Cemetery. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home caring for the family.