Opal Arlene Nelson

Opal Arlene (Carter) Nelson, age 95, of Mesa passed away on July 5, 2017.

Opal was born January 12, 1922, in Wolsey, Beadle County, South Dakota. She was the daughter of Allen Bernard and Zada [Hickle] Carter. She attended elementary school in Beadle County and Grant County, SD. She also attended Brookings Agriculture School, Brookings, SD. Opal was united in marriage with Raymond Nelson on June 3, 1942, at the home of Francis and Verna Janssen near Strandburg, SD.

Opal farmed with her husband near Round Lake near Gary, SD, until they moved to Lake Crystal, MN. They ran a Poultry business in Lake Crystal, until they retired and lived part of the year in Mesa, AZ. Raymond died on March 20, 1988. In her retirement years Opal did babysitting and caregiving. Opal was a faithful believer, and attended many churches in her lifetime where she did volunteer work and was an inspiration. In the last number of years she attended the Salvation Army Church.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Daniel and Linda Nelson of Good Thunder, MN; Mona and Megala (Karam) Megala of Mesa, AZ; four grandchildren: Timothy and Laurie Nelson of Minneapolis, MN, Mathew and Michelle Nelson of Sioux Falls, SD, Reamon Megala and Rida Megala of Mesa, AZ. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren; Jacob and Sara Nelson, Madison, Cohen, and Benton Nelson. Opal was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sisters, Verna Janssen and Norma Andresen and her brother, Conrad Carter.

A memorial service will be held in honor of Opal’s life on Sunday, July 16, 2017, at 2 pm, at the Salvation Army Church located at 241 E. 6th Street, Mesa, AZ. Burial will be at the Woodland Hills Memorial Park Cemetery, Mankato, Minnesota.