Barbara Nelson

BARBARA MARIE NELSON was born October 8, 1924 to John and Barbara (Gilfoy) Bergin at their family home in Springwater Township, Rock County, Minnesota. She attended Country School District #45 until her 8th grade when in 1938 the family moved to rural Pipestone, Minnesota. She graduated from Pipestone High School in 1943. She then furthered her education at the Mankato Business College in Mankato, Minnesota graduating in 1944. She moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where she lived and worked. Barb joined the Crystal Police Department in 1958 and remained there until she retired in October of 1976. She later met Robert Nelson and in 1972 the couple was married at the St. Victor Catholic Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. They then moved near Hackensack, Minnesota and purchased a campground on Pleasant Lake. They operated the campground during the summer months and began wintering in Bullhead City, Arizona. In the fall of 1990, they sold the campground and moved permanently to Bullhead City. Upon Bob’s death in 2001, Barb sold their home and wintered in Mesa, Arizona to be near her sister as well as spending the summer in Luverne, Minnesota.

On Saturday, June 7, 2014 Barb died peacefully at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage at the age of 89 years, 7 months and 29 days.

Barb is survived by her sister, Evelyn Feit of Luverne; a niece, Barbara (Robert) Verhey of Luverne; nephews, Ron (Kathy) Feit of Pine City, Minnesota, Larry (Bernie) Feit of Winter Haven, Florida, Lowell (Rhonda) Feit of Luverne, David (Crystal) Feit of Rushmore, Minnesota, Bradley (Deb) Feit of Dell Rapids, South Dakota, and Brian (Linda) Feit of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and many great-nieces and great-nephews and other family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Nelson; her parents, John and Barbara; a sister, Esther Bergin; and two nephews, Steven and James Feit.