BETTY LOU NELSON obituary

Betty Lou Nelson, 83, a longtime Havre resident died peacefully of natural causes at Northern Montana Hospital on Tuesday, July 10, 2007.

An informal celebration of Betty's life will be held at her home at 1229 Cleveland Avenue on Friday at 11:30 a.m. Betty was born on July 19, 1923, in Waubay S.D., the youngest daughter of nineteen children, to John and Lucinda Reed. Betty was raised and schooled in South Dakota. She married Olaf Raymond Nelson in 1947, and they subsequently moved to Montana in 1949. They made their home in Havre in 1954. Betty was a warm-hearted homemaker and an Avon representative in Havre for many years. In addition she was active on the Havre Day Activity Board of Directors and served as the president of the Board for approximately 10 years. In their later years Betty and Olaf enjoyed square dancing around the United States, including Alaska, and they often traveled to the southwestern United States. Her pastimes included baking, fishing, camping and enjoying her family. Betty shared unselfishly with her time, listening thoughtfully to all. Her wonderful ways touched many people. Her kindness and gentleness will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her husband, Olaf Raymond Nelson; and daughter Linda Lee Nelson. She is survived by her daughters, Charlene Ann (Arlen) Arneson of Whittier, Ala., and Vickie Rae (Gregory) Clouse of Havre; brother, Bob (Molly) Reed of Tacoma, Wash.; three grandchildren, Dale Arneson of Anchorage, Ala., Aaron (Jane) Arneson of Missoula and Kristopher Nelson Clouse of Havre; seven great grandchildren and a great, great granddaughter.