Grandma Nelson

Nate's lovely Grandma Nelson passed away a month ago. While we were so sad to hear of her passing, we were happy that she was able to be with Grandpa Nelson. Her poor body had put up with enough this last year.

Lucille Malstrom Nelson 1923 ~ 2010 Our loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Lucille Malstrom Nelson, passed away on September 17, 2010. She was born on January 30, 1923 to Willard W. and Myrtle T. Malstrom. Lucille was raised in West Jordan, Utah and graduated from Jordan High School. She married her high school sweetheart, Willis Dale Nelson, and together they raised five children: Brent (Sue), Cathy, Kristy (Jim), Connie and Karen (Guy). Lucille loved her family and took every opportunity to gather them together. She loved to fix a "roast-a-beef" dinner, which always included her homemade rolls. Mom loved to feed people and never wanted anyone to go away hungry. Her many interests and hobbies included oil painting, sewing, hand work, bread making, golf, gardening, going to the mountains, and traveling with her husband. Mom was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many callings. She and Dale also served two missions, to Florida and Georgia. Lucille is survived by her five children, 15 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and special friend Lin Fitzgerald. She was preceded in death by her husband, brother Max, sisters Marie and Jeanne.

I was so grateful that we were able to head up to Utah to be with the family. It was a bit tricky. Nate was due to head up the next weekend for a trip he had planned with my brother to go hunting, and the NEXT week after that all four of us were heading up for my niece's wedding. Not that we were thinking about not going, but driving 11 hours each direction for 3 weekends in a row. Gross. Nate has a cousin that works for the airlines and he had two buddy passes and talked someone out of two more and hooked us up to fly. (Even with bereavement fare, all the airlines wanted $450 a ticket!) So we were so appreciative of Aaron's generosity.

While funerals can be very sad occasions, it was so wonderful to see all the family. I hadn't seen some cousins since we moved to Arizona over 5 years ago. It was a wonderful reunion.

The funeral was a fitting and wonderful tribute to a lovely, classy woman. The speakers did such a great job and all the great-grandkids sang a song together. When we headed outside, Sammy saw the limo there and swooned. She leaned over to me and whispered that she wished she could ride in a limo. At that moment, her Grandma Kris announced that half the great grandkids could ride in the limo to the cemetery and the other half could ride it back to the church for the luncheon. Sam's face lit up like a Christmas tree!

Unfortunately, while we were back at the church having our ham lunch some a-hole broke into my mother-in-law's and brother-in-law's cars! Smashed the windows, took purses and cell phones and Kristy's very nice camera with all the funeral pictures on it. Such a shame. (But they caught them a few weeks later!!!) (My original theory was that the limo driver did it to pay us back for making him drive all those kids all over town! hahahaha!)(he's innocent BTW)

Grandma Nelson, you have a beautiful legacy. I feel very grateful to be a part of your family. We love you!!!