Sylvia Joy Nelson, age 91 of Maskell, Nebraska, died on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at the Sanford Vermillion Care Center in Vermillion, SD.
Funeral Services will be on Friday, May 30, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church in Maskell with Chad Beckius PMA and Pastor Randy Rasmussen officiating. Burial will be at the Maskell Cemetery in Maskell. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4-8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington, NE. The family will be present at the Wintz Funeral Home from 6-8:00 p.m.
Visitation will continue on Friday at the church one hour prior to services.
Pallbearers will be Scott Bennett, Danny Bennett, Shannon Nelson, David Burcham, Debbie Ausdemore, and Tara Carlson.
Honorary pallbearers will be Tammie Rasmussen, Shelly Sorensen, Cindy Geis, Suzie Johnson, Stacey Gonzales, and Lisa Beckius.
Sylvia Joy Nelson was born on November 9, 1917 in South Dakota to Jess and Myrtle (Gray) Gregg.
She grew up in the Wynot area and attended High School in Maskell. Sylvia married Donald Martin Nelson on June 1, 1935 in Ponca, NE. She and Donald farmed in the Maskell area until 1969. She then worked for IBP in Dakota City, NE. Sylvia and Don owned and operated the Do Drop Inn Coffee Shop in Maskell from 1973 to 1980. Don died on November 8, 1998 at the age of 84 years.
Sylvia was a caregiver for several people in Maskell and Ponca where she prepared meals and did household chores for them. She was a wonderful homemaker. She canned, milked cows, raised chickens, and most importantly raised her children and grandchildren. Sylvia was the "real" mom and grandma to her family. She belonged to the Faith Lutheran Church in Maskell and its Ladies Aide group, later called the ELCW, quilters group from church, and belonged to a local birthday club. She loved going to Over 60's in Newcastle every month.
Sylvia is survived by four children and their spouses, Ivadell and Bob Burcham of Obert, NE, Loy and Karen Nelson of Maskell, Adell and Barry Bennett of Newcastle, NE, Linda and Francis Ausdemore of Ponca, NE; 12 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; one brother, Deroy and his wife Peggy Gregg of Ponca, NE; three sisters, Darlene Ritter of Lincoln, NE, Mert Sieck of Columbus, Ohio, June Foley of Omaha, NE; daughter-in-law, Beverly Nelson of Laurel, NE.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Donald; two sons, Martin and Larry Nelson; one grandson Martin Nelson; one great granddaughter, Amanda Rasmussen; six brothers, Willard, Wayne, Eldon, Rex, Merle, and Jesse Gregg.
In liew of flowers the family would prefer memorials to the Faith Lutheran Church in Maskell , NE.
