Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271463
Title: Steven "Bumper" Nelsen
Date: 10/26/1951-1/1/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 10/26/1951
Summary: Steven “Bumper” Nelsen, 73, of Williston, ND, passed away January 1, 2025, at Trinity Hospital in Minot, ND. Funeral services were held January 18, 2025, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Williston. Burial was at Hillside Memory Gardens Cemetery in Williston. Steven Nelsen was born in Williston on October 26, 1951, to Fred and Verna (Ellis) Nelsen. He grew up on the family farm south of Williston in McKenzie County. He joined the Navy and served for four years. He spent his time on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. Steven met Mary Sack and on August 10, 1974, they were married. They had three children, Jennifer, Trinity and Bill. Although they did not stay together in marriage, Steven and Mary still enjoyed spending time together. Their friendship was as strong as ever and admired by many. Steve spent many years working at Interstate Oil and drove truck locally and over the road until he retired. He enjoyed his retirement years by grilling, cooking and baking. He went hunting, fishing and looked forward to playing cribbage, listening to music, and tinkering on projects in his heated garage. He was extremely clever and full of knowledge from his many life experiences. He was known for his strong will, stubbornness and lack of patience mixed with his great sense of humor, generous heart, and devotion to his friends and family. If you were a friend, he was invested in that friendship and went above and beyond to show his loyalty and always had time to listen. Although gone too soon, his wit never diminished and he had his brilliant mind until his last breath. He was brave, even in the end he found a way to smile with his half smile and bright eyes. To relieve the pain of others whose hearts were breaking, Steven Fred “Bumper” Nelsen died the way he lived…..with dignity. Steve is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Elsbury, Trinity (Evan) Wrolson; son, William Nelsen; brother, Gary (Shirley) Nelsen; best friend, Tammy Andre; grandchildren, Brandon (Amber Jo) Elsbury, Logan Mudge, Ty Wrolson, Nevin Turner-Elsbury, Telissa Wrolson, Kyla Nelsen, Kasey Nelsen; great-grandchildren, Jasper Elsbury, Rylee Elsbury, Hunter Elsbury, Willow Elsbury; nieces and nephews, Kerry Pascal, Travis Nelsen, Tracy (Jeremy) Ledahl, Ginger (Brandon) McLean; numerous friends and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, Fred; mother, Verna; sister, Barbara Nelsen, sons-in-law, Roger Elsbury, Jay Emly; nephew, Valence Pascal.
Red ID: FND_I_78952 Image ID: 521602 Image Notes: FND001 271463

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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