Milton Lee “Mick” Nelson was born on May 29, 1933 in Kennard, Nebraska to Fred and Mabel (Christensen) Nelson. He was confirmed and baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bennington, NE. Mick graduated from Bennington High School in 1951, where he was an avid basketball and baseball player. Upon his graduation, Mick attended Dana College in Blair from 1951-1952. Mick then entered the Army in April of 1953 and served for two years, stationed at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Mick married Myrna Kruse on September 3, 1955 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bennington, Nebraska and to this union five children were born: Mike, Marty, Michelle, Monte, and Merle.

In 1955, Mick attended Universal Trade School in Omaha, Nebraska studying refrigeration and air conditioning. Mick worked for Gordon Lozier from January 1956 – May 1957. At this time, he and Loren Nichols purchased the service department from Gordon Lozier; L & M Refrigeration was created and lasted one year. Mick then went into his own business, Western Refrigeration in 1958 thru January 1, 1961. Mick merged his business with Garvey-Steg Corporation, which later became Steg-Nelson. In 1976, Steg-Nelson became Nelson Refrigeration. Nelson Refrigeration was later sold and Mick continued to work there until his official retirement in 2013.

Mick passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2014 at his home in Omaha, NE, surrounded by his family. He was 80 years old; 28 days shy of his 81st. birthday. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Mabel Nelson; brothers Frederick and Lyle Nelson and sister LaFern Dierks, and nephew Lyle Nelson.

Mick is survived by his wife Myrna; sons and daughters-in-law Mike and Kim Nelson of Omaha, Marty and Tammy Nelson of Omaha, Monte and Teri Nelson of Washington, NE, Merle and Jenny Nelson of Bennington, and daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Roger Hadan of Omaha; 13 grandchildren; Josh, Justin, Roger Chevy, Racine, Michael, Meghan, Keland, Katie, Kolten, Kinley, Zoe, Zaxton and Zienna; 5 great grandchildren; Mylee, Marie, Libby, Austin and Cheyenne; his sister, LaVonne Lewis of CA; and brother, Ivan Nelson of CO; and many nieces and nephews.

From Funeral Folder:

A Celebration of Life Milton L. “Mick” Nelson

Birth: May 29, 1933 -- Kennard, Nebraska Death: May 1, 2014 -- Omaha, Nebraska

Funeral Service: St. John’s Lutheran Church Bennington, Nebraska Tuesday, May 6, 2014 – 10:30 A.M.

Minister: Reverend Andreas Stein

Organist: Jan Braden

Congregational Hymn “Amazing Grace”

Special Music & Soloist “I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry” -- Mallory Mohr; “On Eagle’s Wings” - Mark Sukraw; “The Lord’s Prayer” -- Rev. John Pierson

Honorary Bearers: Van Mohr, Brian Bergman, Doug Dierks, Tom Dierks, Rollie Wiedrick, Carl Wienfurtner, Bernie Bergman, Dale Mohr, Scott Nelson, Lee Evey

Pallbearers: John Nelson, Justin Nelson, Roger Hadan, Michael Nelson, Keland Nelson, Kolten Nelson, Zaxton Nelson

Interment: Prairie View Cemetery, Washington, Nebraska

Military Honors Conducted by: Bennington American Legion Post #266 Bugler: Mark Sukraw

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~