Norman Nelson

Norman Nelson, age 93, of Bismarck, North Dakota, formerly of Brainerd, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2026.

Norman was born on December 29, 1932, at home in Ruthton, Minnesota, to Nels and Hilda Nelson. He graduated from Ruthton High School and began his working life alongside his father at Nelson and Son Implement, where his love of people, machinery, and the agricultural community began.

On August 8, 1959, Norman married the love of his life, Ruth Ann Jensen. Together, they lived in St. James and Redwood Falls, Minnesota, where Norman worked as a truck driver and later at a John Deere implement dealership. Norman eventually began working for TISCO, which brought the family to Brainerd, Minnesota, where they would make their home for more than 50 years.

If you ever asked Norman what he did for a living, he would simply smile and say, “I’m a peddler—and what do I peddle? Tractor repair parts.” He truly enjoyed his work and, more than anything, enjoyed the people he met along the way. Over the years, he became a familiar and friendly face throughout the communities he traveled, and he always seemed to know the best motels to stay at and, most importantly, the best ice cream stops along the route.

Norman was a people person in every sense of the word. He enjoyed his neighborhood coffee groups, his whittling group, and was an active member of the Covenant group at Trinity Lutheran Church, where he and Ruth Ann were longtime members. Their years spent traveling to Florida and staying at ORA in Melbourne Beach also brought Norman many wonderful friendships that he treasured.

Kindness and a smile seemed to come naturally to Norman. He had a way of making people feel welcome and was known for his easygoing personality, his love of conversation, and his unmistakable habit of wearing shorts all year long—regardless of what the Minnesota weather had in mind.

Norman and RuthAnn shared a love of music and dancing, and they square danced together for more than 50 years. Their dancing took them across the United States and even internationally, creating countless memories and friendships along the way. Music was an important part of Norman’s life and remained something he cherished throughout the years.

Above all, Norman was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and friend. He will be remembered for his kindness, his smile, his stories, his sense of humor, and the many relationships he built throughout his life. His ability to make friends wherever he went was one of his greatest gifts, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew and loved him.

Norman is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Ruth Ann; his children, Dorothy (Wayne) Lamon and Ken (Laurie Lehman) Nelson; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and his brother, Larry Nelson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nels and Hilda Nelson; brothers, Roger Nelson and Marlin Nelson; and parents-in-law, Einer and Edna Jensen.

Norman leaves behind a lifetime of memories, friendships, music, dancing, laughter, and love. His was a life well lived, and his legacy will continue through the many people whose lives he touched.