Charles Nicholas Nelson was born on January 12, 1898 in Westport Township, Iowa, the first born child of Nels Jacob and Christana (Johansen) Nelson, immigrants of Denmark. He lived in Iowa until moving to Minnesota with his parents and brother in 1926.
Charlie married Wilma Geneva Femrite on April 11, 1936 at the Lac Qui Parle Lutheran Parsonage in rural Dawson. Charlie was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith on January 1, 1937 at Riverside Lutheran Church of Dawson.
Charlie and Wilma had two children, Keith Wendell and Sharon Kay. They lived and farmed in the Dawson, Boyd, and Madison area until retiring in the 1970's. They moved into Dawson in November of 1982. After Wilma passed away in 1983, Charlie lived alone until May 5, 1998 when he moved to the Madison Lutheran Home. He passed away on May 20, 1998 at the age of 100 Years, 4 months, and 8 days.
Charlie enjoyed horses, farming, fixing antique clocks, repairing lawn mowers, watching
softball and daily meals from the Dairy Queen.
Charlie was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Sharon; his wife, Wilma; an infant
brother; his parents; and his sister, Christena Silvey.
Charlie is survived by his son, Keith & daughter-in-law Gail Nelson of Dawson, MN; 3 grandchildren - Pam & Dean Lehmann of Boyd, MN, Lee & Linda Nelson of Sauk Centre, MN, and Jeffrey & Melissa Nelson of Aberdeen, SD; 5 great-grandchildren- Alicia Beck, Christiana Lehmann, Kourtney Nelson, Jacob Lehmann & Austin Nelson; one sister, Edith Bendlin of Spencer, IA; one brother, William Nelson of Madison Lutheran Home; as well as nieces, nephews & other relatives.