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Gene Allen Nelson

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Gene Allen Nelson
September 10, 1936 • December 25, 2024

Gene Nelson, 88, of Benson, Minnesota, died Wednesday, December 25, 2024, at CentraCare - Benson Hospital in Benson. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 6, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Benson, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in the Benson City Cemetery.
September 10, 1936, Gene Allen Nelson was born to Roy and Gladys (McDonald) Nelson in Benson. Gene grew up on a farm south of Benson. He was very active in the First Baptist Church of Benson. He attended vacation bible school where he accepted the Lord, was a member of Crusaders youth group, was a camper at Trout Lake Camp, and December 5, 1948, at the age of 12, was baptized by Pastor Vincent Tellgren.
Gene went to District 65 elementary school house in the country. He attended Benson High School where he met his high school sweetheart, Virginia Krause. They graduated from Benson High School in 1954 and were married on April 14, 1956. Their honeymoon was a trip to Norfolk, Nebraska, and Winterset, Iowa, to visit relatives. Shortly after their honeymoon, Gene went off to Mason City, Iowa, to attend Auctioneer School. He became famous in his daughters’ eyes as he had to cut his own record selling livestock.
Gene worked at many different jobs. He was a full-time farmer, helped at the Benson Livestock Sales Barn, which was owned by his father, drove cattle truck and did field work for Roy Berens. He was a full-service gas pump attendant for Simonson Oil in Benson, drove school bus for Benson Schools, cleaned seed and worked in the warehouse of Munson Seed Company in Benson, was a hobby farmer, and a gardener.
Growing up on a farm it was only natural that they had quite a hobby farm. Gene raised dairy cows, beef cows, geese, ducks, chickens, sheep, one goat named Trixy, peacocks, horses, pigs, cats and usually a good hunting and barking watch dog.
October 14, 1960, Gene and Virginia were blessed with a baby girl, Karen, and June 30, 1966, along came blessing #2, another baby girl, Vivian.
Gene was also an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved attending, listening to the radio and watching the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves, and University of Minnesota Gopher basketball and football games.
Gene was a very devoted dad as he never missed a Benson High School concert or sporting event when his girls were participating in them. Viv always knew exactly where Dad and Mom were sitting in the bleachers.
Gene had a very strong work ethic and tried to build and fix many things. He also fixed a lot of fences. He loved family game times, usually playing Whist, Widow Whist, Rage or dirty marbles known as Aggravation.
Later in Gene's life, after he had his major stroke, we were thankful he was not mean or angry with his words. His word of choice was "Whatever."  Gene also loved to watch his grandchildren on stage at The Barn Theatre in Willmar, Minnesota, and listen to beautiful music coming from the pit orchestra. He also went to many of their activities.
Gene was called from this life December 25, 2024 at CentraCare – Benson Hospital in Benson. He was 88 years of age.
Gene is survived by his wife Virginia Nelson of Benson; daughters Karen Nelson of Benson, and Viv (Lee) Watson of Willmar; grandchildren: Ben (Elizabeth) Watson, Austin (Bridgette) Watson, and Kayla Watson; sister Anna Stockham of Carroll, IA; sister-in-law Barb Nelson of Benson; and many other relatives and friends.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and siblings: Donald Nelson, Myrtle (Bob) Grace, Juanita (Roger) Hircock, Frances Irene (Edward Lagred) (LeRoy) Haverly, Margaret Nelson; and brother-in-law Kent Stockham.
   Zniewski Funeral Home of Benson is assisting the family with the arrangements.

 

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