Nelson, Terry Dean MSgt USAF (Ret.)
January 5, 1948-May 2, 2023
Age 75, Bellevue, Nebraska
Survived by Christine, wife of 45 years; daughter Victoria Rose and husband Bobby, and granddaughter Addison Rose Bishop of Bellevue, Nebraska; Elaine G. Nelson, mother (98 years old) and Robert Nelson, brother of Clarkfield, Minnesota. Daughters, Kristi Waltrip of Lafayette, LA, and Julie Zimmerman of Edgewater, MD.
Preceded in death by father, Nefton V. Nelson and brother, Thomas N. Nelson, Clarkfield, Minnesota.
Terry was born in Clarkfield, Minnesota and lived there until he graduated high school in 1966. After a brief start to college in Iowa, Terry learned his draft notice was impending. Terry did not hesitate and decided to voluntarily join the US Army. Terry was a Vietnam Veteran serving as a helicopter mechanic from 1967 to 1970. After a brief transition to civilian life, Terry joined the US Air Force in 1972 working in Accounting and Finance until he retired in 1990 at Offutt Air Force Base. Following his military service, Terry continued working in the finance field with various organizations until he officially retired at the end of 2018.
Terry enjoyed fishing at the family lakeside cabin in Minnesota and in most recent years enjoyed spending time with his Bellevue family and friends. Terry spent hours teaching his granddaughter Addison to draw and color. He was very artistic like his father. Terry indulged in a little too much chocolate while watching classic movies, the history channel; and, he especially enjoyed Pawn Stars and American Pickers. Terry also enjoyed sitting in the backyard watching nature, while working on his Sudoku puzzles and playing Slotomania on his phone.
Terry started feeling unwell with unexplained weight loss in February. On March 2nd, his doctor started treating Terry for diabetes. After trial and error with medications for diabetes, and more doctor visits, some additional tests were done. On his last doctor visit, April 27th, we were informed Terry had stage 4 cancer. We came home with another appointment scheduled to determine what kind he had before treatment could begin. The cancer progressed rapidly and Terry passed away peacefully in his sleep at home where he wanted to be, with Christine by his side.
Per Terry’s wishes, there will be no formal service. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone for thoughts and prayers during this trying time.
4 Comments
What a wonderful father, husband and grandfather, He blessed everyone with his presence. God Bless him and his family. He shall be forever present in the hearts of those who loved him….
Thank you for the wonderful sentiment. I was blessed the day I met Terry, and that blessing continued for 45 years. With God’s grace and mercy, we will always be together.
Terry, was my oldest friend, we met in 6th grade when my father moved to Clarkfield, MN to be the high school principal. We were in Boy Scouts together and all types of Jr. High and High school activities. We even went to Jr. College together for a while and Terry lived with my family in Jewel, IA. I lost track of Terry after that until one night my wife and I were in Red Lobster and in walk this guy I had not seen in 10 years with this woman. I knew it was Terry, So I walked up to the table they were sitting at and said Nelson it’s me Miles. He was shocked to see me just as shocked I was to see him walk into the Red Lobster in Omaha. This reunited our friendship since we were both living in the Omaha area at the time. I must say I will miss my friend, but I have the memories of all the things we did together as individuals and his family and mine.
Thanks for the wonderful memory. Bill. Stay close and stay safe.
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