Clara Josephine Nelson

The eldest child of first-generation Swedes, Inga Fegstad and John Richard Peterson, Clara was born on October 12, 1918 near the village of Glen Flora, Wisconsin - the day of the Cloquet-Moose Lake forest fire.  Smoke from the fire was so heavy during daylight hours that kerosene lanterns were lit to provide light during her birth.

After graduating from local schools and teachers' college in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, she taught in a one-room schoolhouse.

Clara was fishing one fine day on the creek that ran through her parents' farm when Robert ("Pat") Nelson, a newcomer to the area, happened by.  She introduced the North Dakota native to her loving family, the Lutheran church and lutefisk, all of which he came to love.  Pat and Clara were married in Glen Flora Lutheran Church on May 15, 1941. During Pat's war-time naval service, Clara lived in San Diego and honed her writing skills working for engineers at Consolidated Aircraft.  After the war, Pat and Clara returned to Glen Flora where for a short time they owned and operated an automobile service station and lunch counter which featured home-made pie.

Pat was called to enter the ministry, requiring years of higher education.  Pat enrolled in Gustavus Adolphus College, and with Clara and son David began living the life of poor college students.  After seminary in Chicago and Pat's ordination, they began their life of service to congregations and communities in Illinois (Chicago, Liberty, Lost Prairie), Iowa (Burnside, Dunlap), and Minnesota (Winona, White Bear Lake).

Clara's greatest joy came from her Christian faith and serving others.  She sang in or directed choirs in the churches she attended, created preschools, organized Sunday Schools and church programs, and created countless church bulletins.  She provided day care, music lessons and fun to numerous grandchildren, made dozens of quilts, and kept score during several hundred Twins games.

Preceded in death by parents, sister Helen Holm, brothers Fred and John Peterson, husband Robert, and grandson James Albrecht (Tiffani).  She is survived by children David (Kathlyn) Nelson, Janet (Gordon) Spielman, Deborah (Michael) Sandstrom, Jolene (Martha) Nelson, and Bethel (Ronald) Carlson.

Clara is also survived by 12 grandchildren (Tricia Nelson Wright, Bradley Nelson, Bjorn Nelson, Erika Nelson Fricke, Vanessa Albrecht Kahn, John Spielman, Elizabeth Spielman, Preston Sandstrom, Adrian Sandstrom, Nathan Sandstrom, James Carlson and Paul Carlson) and 24 great-grandchildren.