Vivian May (Morgensen) Nelson, lifetime resident of the Town of Easton, Wisconsin, died Thursday, October 26, 2017 at the age of 92, at Rennes Health & Rehab Center in Weston, after less than 24 hours under hospice care. The daughter of George and Hazel (Mortenson) Mogensen, she was born on May 5, 1925 at their home in the Town of Easton.  She was united in marriage to Stanley Nelson on June 9, 1945 at Bethany Lutheran Church. Prior to his death in 2011, they celebrate their 65th year of marriage. Vivian was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a homemaker and worked on the family dairy farm, which was honored as a Century Farm by the Marathon County Agricultural Society and Wisconsin Historical Society in 2007.  In her teens through the early years of her marriage, she was a housekeeper to several families in Wausau. She was very active in the life the congregation at Bethany from her early years as a member of the Sunday School and confirmation class, into being a leader of the church as a Sunday School teacher and superintendent, as well as being active in the women’s groups and Bible studies. In her free time, she enjoyed quilting, flower gardening, and reading. Survivors include five sons, John (Lynette) Nelson, Naperville, IL; Jim (Dagmar) Nelson, Wausau; Tom (Jamie) Nelson, Ringle; Mike (Janell) Nelson, Kronenwetter/Fairplay, CO; and Mark (Sue) Nelson, Easton; 15 grandchildren,  Michelle (Alex) Abdulnor, Hans (Heidi) Nelson, Malissa (John) Smith, Marcus (Holly) Nelson, Luke (Jill) Nelson, Justin (Christie) Nelson, Seth (Monica Windorski) Nelson, Danielle (Damon) Cronce, Matthew (Meagan) Nelson, Becky (Joe) Hallum, Lindsey (Nick) Weiler, Emily (Andrew) Hulke, Ethan Nelson, Katrina (Jeremy Krenz) Nelson, and Chase (Skyler Still) Nelson, 32 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters, Phyllis Ament, Arlene (Oliver) Hoppe, Charlotte (Jerry) Bown, and Karen (Ron) Frye, one brother Harley (Sylvia) Morgensen; and many other relatives. In addition to her husband, Stanley, and her parents, George and Hazel Mogensen, she is preceded in death by a son, Clifford Nelson, grandson Dennis Nelson, and siblings Kenneth, Maynard and Donald Mogensen, and sisters Loretta Eiden and Jeanette Wallace.
The funeral service will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church, Town of Easton, (E19431 Church Road, Aniwa, WI) on Monday, October 30, at 11 a.m. Rev. Gary Froseth will officiate. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will precede the service from 9 to 11 a.m., with a time of fellowship following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Bethany Lutheran Church. Condolences and memories may be shared at schmidschulta.com and at Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home on Facebook.