Eldon Hilmer Nelson, Jr

The funeral service for Eldon Nelson, Jr., 81, of Belview, will be Friday, December 22, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Belview. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service, 9:00 until 11:00 a.m. Military honors will be presented outside the church following the service. A private family interment will take place at a later date. Eldon Hilmer Nelson, Jr., was born on November 16, 1942, in Willmar, to Eldon Sr. and Juliette (Pederson) Nelson. Eldon was baptized at home on February 11, 1945, and confirmed at Lake Lillian Methodist Church. He attended District #43 country school until the fifth grade, then graduated from Atwater High School. Eldon served in the U.S. Army from February 15, 1961, until his honorable discharge on January 31, 1967. He was a tank mechanic and operated heavy artillery. He was stationed in Germany for 2 years and 5 months. He later worked as a linesman and in construction. On March 2, 1974, Eldon was united in marriage to Donna J. Bjorndahl at Grace Lutheran Church in Belview. The couple lived on a farm by Lake Lillian until moving to the home place by Belview in 1976. Eldon farmed grain and livestock, and he worked construction. From this marriage, three children were born: Troy, James, and Jennifer. Eldon was active in the Redwood Valley Saddle Club and August Donner American Legion Post #309. Some of his hobbies included trips to the lake with family, riding horses, camping, deer hunting, playing cards, and his daily trips through the local country back roads. Eldon died on Monday, December 18, 2023, at the CentraCare Hospital in St. Cloud. He is survived by his wife Donna of Belview; children Troy (Angel) Nelson of Belview, James Nelson of Cosmos, and Jennifer (Mike) Zeug of Walnut Grove; grandchildren McGraw (Michaela), McKenna (Colton), Mataya, Mesa, Madigan, Mariah (Robert), Gage, Evan, Brynlee, Sawyer, Conner, Nellie, Juliette, Stella, and special friend Sawyer Bisel; sisters Sandy (J.W.) Curran and Candy (Lonnie) Gass; sisters-in-law Patricia Jones, Janet (Mike) Doody, Bonnie (Steve) Oien, Kerry (Larry) Kramer, and Jill Helgeson; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Eldon Sr. and Juliette, in-laws Frank and Alsace Bjorndahl, sisters Jackie Powel and Mona Nelson, brothers-in-law Cleve Powel, Brad Helgeson, and Ken Jones, and grandson Kaden Thomas.