Leslie "Les" Nelson

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, 1000 Dorcas, Mexico, Missouri 65265.
Officiating will be: Pastor Joel Krueger
Music provided by: Bev Borgenson - organist; Mike and Kathleen Wilson - duet.
Interment will be in the Farber Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Martin Keller, Jay Wilburn, Mark Wise, Walt Unger, Don Borgeson and Louis Schmidt. Honorary pallbearers: Tom Nelson, Tim Nelson, Ted Nelson, Larry Nelson, Wayne Nelson, Mark Bloede and Willard Bloede.

Leslie "Les" Owen Nelson Jr. passed away at 1:40 p.m. on Monday, May 7, 2007 at his home in rural Farber. Les was born at home on the family farm near Crown Point, Indiana. He graduated from Merrillville High School and attended Indiana University Extension where he studied accounting. Les served in the U. S. Navy aboard the USS Toledo. Following his service he began farming with his father and raising black Angus cattle. Les and wife, Gerry purchased a farm just outside of Farber and moved their family in 1975. Les was very active in his church and community. He was a faithful member and Elder at St. John's Lutheran Church in Mexico. Les served his community on the Audrain County Extension Council, Agricultural Roundtable, Missouri Cattlemen's Association, MFA Oil Board, Farm Bureau member, Farber Volunteer Fire Department and the Van-Far Ambulance Board. The BPM men's club honored Les as Master Farmer in 1986. Les enjoyed raising and showing black cattle and using John Deere equipment for his farming business. He and Gerry enjoyed spending the last nine winters in McAllen, Texas.

Born: August 15, 1935 near Crown Point, Indiana to Leslie Owen and Caroline (Sapper) Nelson Sr.

Married: Geraldine P. "Gerry" Robinson on June 30, 1961 in Crown Point, Indiana.

Survivors include: wife, "Gerry" of the home; one son, Ralph and wife, Christy Nelson of rural Vandalia; one daughter, Rochelle and husband, Keith Belt of New Harmony, Indiana; five grandchildren, Rebecca, Rachel, Ryan and Renee Nelson of rural Vandalia; Samuel Belt of New Harmony, Indiana; one brother, Edward and wife, Grace Nelson of Hobart, Indiana; one sister, Millie and husband, Dan Smatana of Sun City, Arizona.

Preceded in death by: one brother, Charles Nelson and one sister, Mildred Bloede.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to a Van-Far FFA Scholarship Fund set up at First National Bank of Vandalia or St. John's Lutheran Church, 1000 Dorcas, Mexico, Missouri 65265.