Milton Lee Nelson

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 Eilsen 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 this 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, 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. Grandchildren: Josh, Justin, Roger Chevy, Racine, Michael, Meghan, Keland, Katie, Kolten, Kinley, Zoe, Zaxton and Zienna. Great grandchildren: Mylee, Marie, Libby, Austin and Cheyenne. Sister LaVonne Lewis of CA. and Ivan Nelson of CO. Many nieces and nephews. Milton L. “Mick” Nelson, 80, of Omaha, died 5-1-14. Survived by wife Myrna, children: Mike (Kim), Marty (Tammy), Michelle (Roger) Hadan, Monte (Teri), Merle (Jenny), 13 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, sister LaVonne Lewis of California, brother Ivan Nelson of Colorado, and many nieces and nephews. Funeral service 10:30 AM Tuesday, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bennington. Interment Prairie View Cemetery with military honors by the Bennington American Legion. Visitation Monday 4-8 PM with family receiving friends from 6-8 PM at the church in Bennington. Memorials to the Mick Nelson Memorial Fund.

Milton Lee Nelson

May 29, 1933 - May 1, 2014