Maynard E. Nelson

Maynard E. Nelson, age 93, resident of Lakota, ND, died Wednesday, February 8, 2017 in Lakota.

Maynard Eugene Nelson was born June 7, 1923 in McVille, ND, the son of Edwin and Mabel (Bakke) Nelson. He was raised on his parent’s farm near Lakota and attended the Williams Consolidated School before graduating from Lakota High School in 1940. He attended North Dakota Agricultural College for a short time before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Force on November 27, 1941. He served during WWII as a Waist Gunner on a B-17, and was honorably discharged on October 5, 1945 with the rank of Tech Sergeant. Maynard married Leila Bascom that same year. They moved back to ND and he attended UND, graduating with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. They then lived at Mapes, ND for a time and he farmed with his father. They later moved to Lafayette, IN and he attended Perdue University, where he earned a BS in Aeronautical Engineering. They then moved to Florida, where he owned a citrus grove and remodeled reefer trailers into fruit cargo trailers. He also operated a self-serve printing and copying business. Later they divorced. While there, he met and married Sandy Jerrell in 1968. They moved to the farm near Lakota for a short time in 1974, before they moved into town. Maynard continued farming and also was a partner with his son, Mike, at Nelson Fish Farm in Lakota. He enjoyed gathering and visiting with his friends. He was a Shriner and a longtime member of the American Legion and Lakota Lutheran Church.

Maynard is survived by 5 children, Gary Nelson of Winter Haven, FL, Linda (Howard) Shumate of Jacksonville, FL, Edward (Lita) Nelson of San Antonio, TX, Ross (Dana) Nelson of Melbourne, FL, and Mike (Jessica) Nelson of Lakota; 4 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; 1 sister, Elaine Fisk of Lakota; and nieces & nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Earl Nelson.

The Memorial Service for Maynard will be held at the Lakota Lutheran Church, Lakota, ND, on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be the Reverend Tedd Rieke, the organist will be Karen Fowler. Visitation will be held at the church on Tuesday, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be in the spring at the Lakota Cemetery. Military Honors will be conducted by the Rundell-Holicky American Legion Post #21 of Lakota and the ND Military Funeral Honors Team.