Mildred Nelson

LODI - Mildred Mickelson Nelson, age 95, died peacefully on Thursday, April 15, 2011 at the Lodi Good Samaritan Center. Mildred was born in Barneveld in 1915 to Betsey and Clarence Mickelson, the first of eight children. Following graduation from Barneveld High School she worked as a telephone operator in Minneapolis for a few years before moving back to the Madison area. Mildred met Alvin Nelson, a recently returned World War II veteran, in 1945 on a blind date arranged by her friend Lucinda who was dating Al's brother. They were married in 1946 and settled in Lodi where they raised their three children and were very active in the First Lutheran Church congregation. Along with dancing and curling, Mildred loved to garden and had a long association with the Lodi Garden Club. She also enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, ceramics and quilting. Mildred owned and operated the concession stand in Goeres Park for many years during summer softball and High School football seasons. You wouldn't want to challenge Mildred to a game of scrabble unless you didn't mind losing. One of her favorite activities when the family gathered was to challenge her grandchildren to a scrabble match. Most of anything she enjoyed spending time with her family whenever she could. Mildred is survived by her sister, Ethel 'Toots' (William) Haag; son, Jerry (Jolly) Nelson; daughter, Betsy Nelson; daughter-in-law, Sherry Nelson; grandchildren, Kimberly Clark, Kristin Morey, Jennifer Nelson, Gabriel Nelson, Caryn Bendrick and Thomas Bendrick; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Nelson; son, James Nelson; brothers, William, Curtis and Wallace Mickelson; and sisters, Ida Antonson, Esther Lenherr and Virginia Forbes. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 18, 2011 at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH in Lodi, with the Rev. Michael Lee officiating. Visitation will be held from 12:00p.m. until the service at the church. Interment will be at County Line Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to the Lodi Good Samaritan Center.