Colleen Nelson

Colleen May Nelson, 89, of Randall, died Thursday, April 6, 2017 at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls. Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cushing. Family and friends are invited to gather Tuesday evening from 5-7 PM at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Randall and one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. Interment will take place at Randall City Cemetery.

Colleen was born May 2, 1927, in Cushing, the daughter of Rudolph and Lila (Kearfott) Nygaard. After graduating high school, Colleen continued her education and received a teaching degree from St. Cloud Teacher’s College. She worked in the Cushing, Randall and Little Falls School Systems. In 1948, she was united in marriage to Lyle Nelson. The couple made Randall their home. She had a passion for reading many types of literature, was a Sunday School teacher and church choir director. Colleen was involved in many community activities, VFW Auxiliary Post 9073, loved flowers, bird-watching, but most of all Colleen’s joy came from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She will be missed by her husband of 69 years, Lyle; daughters, Renee (Rick) Eich, of St. Cloud and Rhonda (Doug) Jones, of White Bear Lake; son-in-law, Michael Hall; grandchildren, Erica (Aaron) Danielski, Ashley (Ricky) Hayman, Greg (Nicole) Eich, Melissa (Josh) Reuter, Paul (Laura) Eich, Trevor (Carrie) Jones, and Ross (Erin) Jones; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Sandra Hall; brothers, Roland and Arden Nygaard; an infant brother; and great-grandson, Kellan Eich.