Ronald Nelson

Ronald Paul Nelson, 95, died June 22, 2012. Ronald was born in Crookston, Minn., in 1916 to Hans C. Nelson and Emma G. Nelson. He was one of four sons and was preceded in death by his parents and brothers.

Ron graduated from Grand Forks High School in Grand Forks, N.D., and attended the University of North Dakota as a Phi Delta Theta. In 1938 he married June Ogden DeLano of Grand Forks. In January 1942 he was hired by the Boeing Company and Ron and June moved to Seattle, driving across the country with their first child, Garry.

Ron worked for Boeing in the Engineering Department as a member of the technical staff. During those years the family grew to four children. The family lived in south Seattle until 1957 and then moved to Bellevue. Ron was occupied with work, Boy Scouts, Little League, St. Thomas Episcopal Church and golf at the Overlake Country Club.

After retiring from Boeing in 1974, Ron and June moved to Brownsville, Ore., to fulfill a lifelong dream of living off the land. They enjoyed building, gardening and life in the country as well as continuing to play golf.

In late 1982 Ron and June moved to back to Washington, settling on Whidbey Island. They have made Whidbey their home for the last 29 years. They most recently lived in Langley. They were members of the Useless Bay Golf and Country Club and attended Trinity Lutheran Church. Both were avid golfers and bridge players.

Ronald is survived by his wife, June, currently living in Mill Creek; children Garry Nelson and wife, Nancy of Riverside, Calif., Ann DesJardien of Mukilteo, Jim Nelson and wife, Sandy in Freeland, and Janet Davis of Eugene, Ore. Ronald also leaves 13 grandchildren as well as 16 great grandchildren.

Service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland on Saturday, June 30, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers remembrances can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 18341 State Route 525, PO Box 97, Freeland, WA 98249.