Delores Mary Nelson, 
80, of Crookston, MN, passed away at the Villa St. Vincent on Friday, January 4, 2019, with members of her family at her side.
Delores was born in Crookston on June 9, 1938, the daughter of David and Alice (Thibodeau) Beauchene. She grew up in Crookston where she attended St. Joseph’s Academy and Crookston Central High School. On March 16, 1954 Delores was united in marriage to Ordean E. Nelson in Crookston. The couple made their first home in Crookston and through the years their marriage would be blessed by the births of 5 children. They would later move to Gentilly, MN, and then to the North Dakota communities of Grand Forks and Granville. After returning to Crookston, Delores was employed as a nurse’s aide at the Bethesda Hospital, which later became known as RiverView Hospital. In 1972 the family moved to Portage, IN for a few years before coming back to the area and settling in Mentor, MN. In 1989 Delores and Ordeanonce again called Crookston home. With her health in decline, she became a resident of the Villa in October of 2015.
While living in Mentor, Delores had attended the Bethel Bible Church. Family came first in her life, and she was a very loving and devoted wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, and recently a great-great grandma. Delores and Ordean renewed their vows on their 40th anniversary. Their son, Ordean Jr., performed the service and it was a joyous memory for all in attendance.
Delores is survived by Ordean, her beloved husband of 64 years; their 3 living children: Maurice Nelson of Crookston, MN, Michael Nelson and wife, Sherri, of Shakopee, MN, and Pastor Ordean E. Nelson Jr. and wife, Pamela, of Valparaiso, IN; a son-in-law, Jose Martinez of Crookston; 7 grandchildren: Delores (Brian) Shipley, Carmen (Shane) Mendez, Josh (Ariela) Valdez, Matthew (Rose) Nelson, Micah (Miranda) Nelson, Andrea Nelson, and Skyla Nelson; 13 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great granddaughter. She also leaves 3 sisters-in-law: Marion Beauchene of Fargo, ND, Bev Nelson of Mentor, MN, and Barb Nelson of Winamac, IN; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Sadly, Delores was preceded in death by a son, Ronald Jay “Ronnie” Nelson, who died on June 22, 2011; a daughter, Debra Jo Martinez, who died on October 28, 2017; her parents, David and Alice Beauchene; and 4 siblings: Robert Beauchene,
Margie Roi, Francis Beauchene, and Mary Ann Beauchene. Blessed be the memory of Delores Mary Nelson.
The funeral service for Delores Nelson will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 10, 2019, at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston with her son, Pastor Ordean E. Nelson Jr., officiating. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Fairview Cemetery, rural Erskine, MN, in the spring.
