Wayne L. Nelson, 80, of Oberon, ND, died Friday, March 20, 2009, at the Carrington Health Center.  Funeral services will be Monday,  March 23, 2009, 11:00 AM  at Calvary Lutheran Church in Oberon with Pastor Sharron Lucas officiating.  Burial will be in the Hillside Cemetery at Oberon, later in the spring.  Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 7pm  with a 7pm Prayer Service at the Nelson Funeral Home in Maddock and Monday, at the church an hour before the service.  Casket bearers will be:  Steve Ellingson,  Mark Griffin-Boyle,  Jarvis Hegland, Greg Hegland,  Matt Locken,  Jon Bjornstad,  Carl Strachan,  Chad Nelson and Larry Barko.  Honorary bearers will be his grandchildren and great-granddaughter.  Music will be from Renee Gilderhus, soloist with Cindy Hegland, organist.

Wayne Leland Nelson was born at Maddock, ND on March 29, 1928, to Hartley and Mabel (Christianson) Nelson.  He was raised near Oberon and graduated from the Oberon High School.    Wayne attended Minot State University and taught country school, prior to beginning a 45 year career as manager of Farmers Union Oil/Cenex Companies in Denhoff-McClusky, Rolette, McVille and after retiring in 1991 to a farm near Oberon, he interim managed several Cenex Stations.

On June 5, 1949, he married Shirley Griffin at Calvary Lutheran Church in Oberon.    Wayne was confirmed and a life member at Calvary Lutheran Church in Oberon, a member of the Farmers Union Oil Managers Association and the New Rockford Eagles.  Wayne spent many hours mowing and caring for his farm and loved to drive his Allis Chalmers WD45 tractor in area parades. He also enjoyed attending the steam thresher shows and visiting with family and friends.  Wayne enjoyed all sports, especially attending many local games and watching others on television.  Above all, he loved spending time with his family, grandchildren, great-granddaughter and friends.

Surviving is his wife:  Shirley of Oberon;  children:  Colleen (Donald) Foster of Greensboro, NC,  Byron (Marjorie) Nelson of Little Falls, MN and Dennis (Cindy) Nelson of Bozeman, MT;  6 grandchildren:  Mariah Strachan,  Sarah Nelson,  Dan Nelson,  Emily Nelson,  Rainya Strack and Michael Johnson;  a great-granddaughter:  Makenzie Strachan;  sisters:  Vivian Hegland and Wanda Paulson, both of Carrington, ND,  Dallas (Verner) Erickson of Sheyenne, ND;  brothers:  James (Anne) Nelson of Oberon;  Mayo Nelson and Glenn Nelson both of Aloha, OR;  sisters-in-law:  Doris Griffin and Grace Griffin both of Oberon and Kay Griffin of Devils Lake,  Darla (Richard) Carlson of New Rockford, ND and Eileen (Frank) Ellingson of Minot.

He was preceded in death by his parents;  step-mother:  Florence Nelson;  brothers-in-law:  Gilman Hegland,  Orville Paulson,  Abie Griffin and Stanley Griffin.



Condolences:

Shirley and family: I have you and your family in my prayers and wish you strenth in these trying times. Love, Carol M. Haskin



You are in my thoughts and prayers. I am sorry about your loss- Grandpa Wayne was a wonderful man.

Tawni Jetter