Earl Nelson

Earl Fred Nelson, 85, Bismarck, passed away September 14, 2023, after a two day stay at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck.

A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Monday, September 18, 2023, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with Rev. Robert Caranicas officiating.  Burial will be at Tell Cemetery, Kintyre, ND. 

Cremation has taken place and visitation will be held from 4-6 PM on Sunday, September 17, 2023, at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, with a prayer service at 6 PM.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Earl Fred Nelson was born January 29, 1938, at the Bismarck Hospital to Fred and Gladys (Friestad) Nelson of rural Braddock. He attended Tell School through the eighth grade and then started farming with his Dad and uncles at Fairdale Angus Farm. In 1962, Earl married Eunice Swanson and together they had two children, Kimberly and Kevin. Earl farmed for several years in partnership with his brother, Wally, raising registered Angus cattle until 1988, when Earl took over the entire operation. Earl was a member of the American Angus Association, served as treasurer of Tell Cemetery for several years, and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Kintyre for most of his life. One of his biggest honors was being named ND Angus Association Man of the Year in 1997.

In 1999, Earl married Dorothy (Gaebe) Mason. In 2001, he sold Fairdale Angus Ranch and he and Dorothy moved to their home south of Mandan that overlooked the Missouri River. Occasionally he helped nearby ranchers with their cattle and also tried his hand at woodworking and restoring furniture. Over the years, Earl enjoyed many trips to visit a friend in Alaska, often brining friends and family along to fish for salmon and halibut. Ah, the fish stories they would have. His biggest joy in life was spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was patient, loving, and so proud of all of them. In October 2021, Earl and Dorothy moved into Missouri Slope Assisted Living in Bismarck.

Blessed to have shared in his life is his wife, Dorothy Nelson, Bismarck; daughter, Kim (John) Toney, Greenwood, IN; son, Kevin (Kate) Nelson, Morris Plains, NJ; stepson, Justin (Bethany) Mason, Conrad, MT; grandchildren, Jenna, Brittany, and Krista Toney, Joshua Nelson, and George and Juniper Mason; brothers, Wallace (DyVonne) Nelson, MO and Gary Nelson, CA; sisters, Dolores (Dick) Kounovsky, CO and Joyce (Tom) Mueller, Jamestown; brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard Jacobson, Robert (Mary Alice) Gaebe, Colleen Funk, and Robin (Sheila) Gaebe; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Olive Jacobson; sister-in-law, Lorraine (Gaebe) (Clarence) Kramer; and brother-in-law, James Funk.