Elmer A. Nelson

Longtime Worland resident, Elmer Albert Nelson, 94, passed away on March 20, 2016 at Worland Healthcare Center.

Elmer was born on November 1, 1921 in Basin, Wyoming, a son of Albert and Martha (Bosch) Nelson. He lived as a small child with his family at Elk Creek before they moved to west Rairden area. In 1938 the family moved to a farm just over the county line north of Worland.

Elmer attended schools at Manderson, WY and graduated from high school in 1941. He then attended the University of Wyoming for a year. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and was stationed in the South Pacific during World War II. He was discharged in 1946.

He married Marge Hieb on June 21, 1949 in Jamestown, ND. They later divorced.

After the war he returned to the family farm where he farmed with his family until 1960. In 1960 he moved to Denver and Englewood, CO.

Elmer returned to Worland in 1963. He returned to farming in 1967, farming south of Worland until retiring in 2007. He was a member of the Washakie Beet Growers Assn. and the Washakie County Farm Bureau of which he was a past president.

He was honored by the Big Horn Basin Ag Ambassadors when they named him Ag Citizen of the Year in 2006.

Elmer met the love of his life, Esther Wagner, and they were married on March 3, 1967 in Buffalo, Wyoming. Esther died in August 1999.

Elmer was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Worland; and the American Legion and V.F.W. in Worland.

He notably was a member of the Worland Elks Lodge #1908 where he had been the Exalted Ruler of the lodge, and served on the house committee and was lodge secretary for several years. He also was the club manager for many years. He served as a District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler for Wyoming and had served on the Elks National Credentials Committee. He was a Past State President of the Wyoming State Elks Assn. where he had also been a state trustee for 5 years.

Elmer had also been active in the Worland Rotary Club where he was a past president and was the club secretary from many years. He served on the Hot Springs REA Board of Directors before they merged; and he was on the Bluff Canal Board of Directors. His hobbies included traveling, especially to Elks conventions, building his own home, and watching TV.

He was preceded in death by his parents, by his wife Esther, and by his brothers Arthur "Buddy" Nelson and Leonard Nelson; and by his step-daughter Sharon Lapp.

Elmer is survived by his son Terry (Helen) Nelson of Cheyenne, WY; by his brother Alvin (Carol) Nelson of Cheyenne, WY and by his sisters Dorothy Sinn and Alberta (Jack) Seaman of Worland, WY, Evelyn Maurer of Pocatello, ID, and Agnes Webb of Egan, MN. He is also survived by his stepchildren Larry (Rita) Wagner and Don (Donna) Wagner of Worland and Ken (DeeDee) Wagner of Ivins, Utah; and by 15 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

His funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Worland. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Worland with American Legion Post #44 providing graveside military honors. A reception will then follow at the Worland Elk Club.

Memorials may be made to the Elks National Foundation at 2750 N. Lakeview Ave.-Chicago, IL 60614; to Zion Lutheran Church at P. O. Box 376 - Worland, WY 82401; or to the fund of the donor's choice.

Veile Mortuary assisted the family with the arrangements.