Emma Lou Nelson

Emma Lou Nelson, age 98, of Waterville, passed away on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at Blue Valley Senior Living in Blue Rapids.

Emma Lou was born on August 22, 1922, on her parent’s farm near Bonner Springs, to Earl L. and Elsie S. (Peterson) Malone. 

She graduated from Bonner Springs High School in 1940. 

She met Melvin W. Nelson at the American Royal Show in Kansas City, they were married on her 19th Birthday, in 1941. Emma Lou and Melvin settled south of Waterville and farmed together until 1990 when Melvin passed away. They also had a custom harvesting business and often cut from Texas to North Dakota. Emma Lou took care of all the cooking and laundry for the crew out of a small trailer. 

At home she kept busy with the Waterville Extension Home Unit, 4-H, the Harbaugh Community Club and with her church, St. Mark Lutheran Church where she was a member of the Hebron Women’s Circle.  Emma Lou grew up learning to be content with what she had and did not need a lot to be happy. She trusted her Lord in all things and had a strong sense of right and wrong. She worked hard at whatever she put her hand to and especially loved to be in her garden.   Emma Lou loved her children and grandchildren, her face would light up when her grandchildren where around.

Survivors include three children: Dudley Nelson and Richard Nelson of Waterville and Treva Steele of Barnes, seven grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren, and by two sisters in law: Vivian Norris of Blue Rapids and Pauline Berner of Denver, Colorado.

Preceding Emma Lou in death were her parents, her husband Melvin, an infant daughter Nancy Nelson, a daughter Vicki Johnson and nine brothers and sisters: Frances Landsberg, Naomi Klamm, Harry Malone, Ruby Crossen, Lois Beaver, Fred Malone, Eugene Malone, Earlene Smarr and David Malone.

Memorial service will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, November 11, 2020, at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Waterville with Sister Mary Arie officiating. Abigail and Audra Steinfort will sing “In The Garden”, Caroline Steele will sing “How Great Thou Art” and Kathy Menzel will sing “I Love To Tell The Story” and “Without The Cross”. Inurnment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Waterville following the service.

Memorials are suggested to either: St. Mark Lutheran Church or to Blue Valley Senior Living and may be sent in care of Terry-Christie Funeral Home at PO Box 61, Waterville, Kansas 66548.