CANDACE NELSON obituary

JOPLIN - Candace Lorraine (Thorson) Nelson, 54, died Tuesday, March 1, 2005, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings following emergency surgery.

A funeral service was scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the King of Glory Lutheran Church in Billings. Burial will follow in Mountview Cemetery in Billings. A memorial

service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Joplin.

Candy was born May 26, 1950, at Havre to Clifford and Lucille (Poppler) Thorson, who farmed in the north Joplin community. Candace, better known as "Candy," grew up in Joplin and received her education there. Following her graduation from Joplin High School in 1968, she attended the Dahl Beauty School in Great Falls and earned her beautician's certificate.

Candy lived and worked in Port Arthur, Texas, for several years before returning to Montana.

She married Kenneth "Kenny" Nelson on Feb. 23, 1974, at Joplin, where they made their home. In addition to being a farmwife, homemaker and mother to four children, Candy also worked part time as a beautician. In 1989, the Nelsons moved to Chinook, where Candy took a job as a clerk at the Blaine County Extension Office.

Following the Nelsons' divorce in 1999, Candy moved to Billings to begin a new phase of her life. She eventually took a job as office manager for the Tri-Jack Architectural Supply Company. During this time, her four children and families had all migrated to the Billings community, so the adjustment had become smoother and life was good.

In October, Candy suffered a major heart attack resulting in debilitating injury and surgery. Since then, she had been recuperating at home and appeared to be "on the road to recovery." Then, without warning, in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Candy suffered another attack at home. She was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings where emergency surgery was performed.

Candace was baptized and confirmed at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Joplin. She remained active in church activities and sang in the church choir during her life in Joplin. After moving to Chinook, the Nelsons attended the American Lutheran Church.

Candy was a go-getter who liked to stay busy. She enjoyed being outside working in her garden. She enjoyed tearing down a wall and starting a remodeling project. She enjoyed painting the living room to give it a fresh new look. Her ideas and projects were always creative and the results were always amazing.

In her quiet time at home, she enjoyed embroidery, crossword puzzles, old movies and old sitcoms. She also enjoyed reading romance novels, particulately by Danielle Steele, and inspirational books. At family gatherings, she loved to play pinochle and board games. She thrived on these family get-togethers and loved to be the caterer and the hostess. Candy was an exceptional cook who never used recipes. Candy was a diehard Montana Grizzly football fan. She loved throwing Grizzly parties.

Candy served as a 4-H leader for many years. Candy's greatest enjoyment was supporting her children in all of their endeavors.

Candy was preceded in death by her father in 1998 and her mother in 2001.

Survivors include her children, Allyson (Larry) Brown, Windy (Dan) Bowman, Travis Nelson, and Ryan (Krystie) Nelson, all of Billings; six grandchildren; sister, Nancy (Larry) Olson of Joplin; brother, Jerry (Gloria) Thorson of Joplin; special aunt, Blanche "Aunt Tilly" Anderson of Rudyard; special friend, Kenny Nelson of Helena; and several nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Local arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel, Chester.