Wilfred Nelson Obituary (1948 - 2024) - Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Wilfred John (“Willie”) Nelson, 76, passed away at his home in Lake Havasu City, AZ on October 11, 2024. He was born September 12, 1948 at Mobridge, SD, the second son of Fred and Emma (Sittner) Nelson of Watauga, SD. He attended rural schools in Corson and Perkins counties, including Chance School, while his mother was a teacher. The family had a farm west of Watauga. They moved to Lemmon, where Wilfred and his brother Jim both graduated from Lemmon High School. At LHS, Wilf was on the track team. After graduating from Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD with a bachelor’s degree in math education, Wilfred moved to Big Lake, MN near Monticello. He taught math at Monticello High School for 30 years and was a track coach. After taking an early retirement, he stayed on as a substitute teacher for several years. He sold his home at Big Lake and moved to a development located on a golf course, where he played often. His other hobbies were playing Black Jack at nearby casinos and reading. He was a fan of the Minnesota Twins and the Timberwolves. In Minnesota friends began calling him Willie, and the name stuck. Wilfred made frequent trips to South Dakota for holidays and family gatherings at Lemmon and Mobridge. He bought a home in North Las Vegas, NV and spent winters there and summers in Minnesota. Eventually he sold his place in Minnesota and lived full-time in Nevada. He and his special friend, Sandra Prozinski, moved to Lake Havasu City in 2022. Facing health issues over the past year, he became homebound. After several short hospital stays, he had returned home, happy to see his dog, Boy, a few days before passing. Willie is survived by his special friend, Sandra Prozinski of Lake Havasu City; sister-in-law Kathy Nelson of Timber Lake; many Nelson, Sittner, Ross, and Frey cousins; and a host of friends in Minnesota and Nevada. He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Emma Nelson; his brother, Jim; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. At his request, no funeral service will be held. His cremains will be buried at the Lemmon Cemetery. The Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home in Lake Havasu City and Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon are in charge of arrangements.