Funeral Services for Lester Gene "Jake" Nelson, 90, of Hettinger, ND will be Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Centennial Chapel of Evanson Jensen Funeral Homes in Hettinger. Rev. Jerry Erickson will officiate. Burial will be on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 3:00 p.m CT at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan, ND. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 7, at the Centennial Chapel and one hour prior to the funeral on Tuesday afternoon.


Lester "Jake" Gene Nelson was born on February 2, 1922, in rural North Dakota (Adams County) to Carl and Lizzie Nelson. He graduated from Hettinger High School in 1941. In 1942 he was drafted into the US Army and served in the South Pacific as a Sergeant in the 129th Infantry Regiment. While serving in World War II, he earned two Bronze Stars.


Upon returning from the military after the war ended, Jake began farming with his dad. In March of 1955, he married Frances Dokken. They lived north of Lemmon and went on to raise a family of five children. Jake was a steward of the land and dedicated his entire life to farming and ranching until two years ago when they moved to Hettinger to be closer to medical facilities.


When not farming and ranching, Jake enjoyed fishing, hunting, baseball (his favorite team was the Brooklyn now Los Angeles Dodgers), horseshoes, pool, playing cards, reading and spending time with his family.


Jake was recently honored as an active member in the Mott American Legion for fifty-five years.


Jake passed away peacefully at home in Hettinger, North Dakota on January 3, 2013. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Lizzie Nelson, two brothers, Clifford "Cliff" and Robert "Bob" Nelson and two sisters, Marian Olson and Vera Skjordal, a granddaugher, Kaya Huling and a grandson, Tucker Smith. Jake is survived by his wife Frances, four sons Steve (Marte), Billings MT, Dennis, Philip, SD, Mark, Mobridge, SD, Russell (Becky), Lemmon, SD and daughter Diane (Don), Denver, CO; ten grandchildren Stephanie Morrison, Boston, MA, Staci Knuths, Glendive, MT, Zane Nelson, Casper WY, Heather Nelson, Quinn, SD, Dane Nelson, Philip, SD, Cheyenne Russell, Tillamook, OR, Sage Nelson, Tillamook, OR, Jesse Crouch, Dickinson, ND, Sara Baumeister, Denver, CO and Joe Smith, Denver, CO; six great-grandchildren, Keegan and Kaden Russell, Tillamook, OR, Allie and Natalie Kjerstad, Quinn, SD, Henry Morrsion, Boston, MA and LaBron Nelson, Sacramento, CA; one sister Goldie Dresden, Fresno, CA and one sister-in-law Carole Gaugler, Denver, CO.