Louese Nelson

Louese Bethene (Flock) Nelson, 88 years of Trinidad, Colorado, surrounded by her loving family, passed on to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, November 28th, 2022, at her son’s home.

Louese was born July 1st, 1934, on the Flock family farmstead east of Burwell, NE of Garfield County. She was the oldest child of William and Freda (Conner) Flock. Louese attended Rosevale rural school near her home through the 8th grade, helping her parents with her six younger siblings. She boarded in town with her grandmother Conner during high school and graduated at age 17 with the class of 1951 from Burwell High School with a normal school teaching credential from the University of Nebraska. She augmented her education with summer classes from the University of Nebraska and taught in two rural schools before becoming a mother. In the summer of 2021, she was thrilled to attend her 70th year class reunion in Burwell, NE.

Louese Bethene Flock and Decklyn Lessly Nelson were wed on June 1st, 1952, after Decklyn’s U.S. Army service in Germany. The couple made their home on the Cassidy ranch. During this time, their son Casey was born. They later moved to Merriman, Nebraska, in Cherry County. Their son Cary was born while they were living there.

Louese was a gifted homemaker and neighbor. For a time, she gave piano lessons to many children in the Irwin and Niobrara communities. Her specialty was opening her home to visitors,
preparing Sunday dinners, creating western shirts, and garments for herself, family, and friends. Decklyn and Louese were dedicated 4-H leaders. Louese helped many 4-Hers with sewing sessions and food projects for county fair. Louese was also a long-time member of the Fieldside Extension Club. She loved to have her grandchildren and great-grandchildren visit, and inspired interests in cooking, baking, gardening, canning, and sewing. She was also a talented cake decorator.

Louese received Christ as her Savior when she was 11 years of age while attending an American Sunday School Union meeting at the rural school. When the altar call was given, she started to go forward, when her dad reached out his hand and stopped her saying, “You’re not going to do this before I do.” Everyone old enough to know what they were doing received Christ into their hearts that day, led by their father and mother. This decision was to become a compass in her life, setting her on a course that carried her to the end.

Louese and Decklyn helped start several churches throughout their lifetime, including the Baptist Church of Burwell, Ord Baptist Church, Erina Church, Gordon Baptist Church, and Country Hills
Fellowship. She ministered the gospel of Jesus Christ for over 20 years on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of South Dakota. Louese taught Sunday School, was a church pianist, led home Bible studies, taught “Good News” club and “Fellowship of Christian Athletes”, was a youth group teacher, and along with Decklyn, encouraged many people with wise Biblical counsel, and had countless individuals receive Christ through their ministry. She was a soloist at numerous weddings and funerals.

Decklyn passed on to be with the Lord April 25th, 1985. Louese remained on the Spectacle Ranch where they had made their home for 18 years, for one year, then moved to Gordon, NE, eventually purchasing, and managing JJ’s Family Restaurant. Louese also traveled across the USA as an evangelist for several years. Her traveling companions in ministry were Angie Taylor, and Mary McDowell-Thompson, both of Crawford, NE. Another memorable ministry prayer partner, and dear friend was Patricia Dunnick of Hutchinson, MN. She also pastored Country Hills Fellowship Church, of Clinton, NE, from May of 1989 through October of 2002, after her son, Casey, was called to pastor in Creighton, NE in 1989. Louese moved to Trinidad, Colorado in 2002 to become associate pastor of First Christian Church and to be near her son Cary’s family. At age 71 she completed her Biblical graduate studies and received her PHD in Theology from Life Christian University of Tampa, FL. She was a professor for Life Christian University for a number of years. She continued to serve not only this congregation but was a fill-in pastor for several congregations. She also went on two mission trips to Costa Rica.

It was a life-long dream of Louese’s to visit the Holy Land. In the spring of 2019, her dream came true. Her dear friend Bernadette Davis traveled with her to visit Israel. She felt like she was coming home, as this was the place of her Savior’s birth and life here on earth. She especially enjoyed a camel ride, along with the feeling of the Bible coming to life with each visit to historic Biblical landmarks. Special thanks to Duane Minter for making this possible.

Louese was preceded in death by her parents, William (Bill) and Freda Flock; in-laws Walter and Gladys Nelson; sisters: Mary Lou, Dixie Lee Flock, Rosie Pokorny, and Marlene Witherwax, son Casey Nelson, grandson Cari Nelson; and great grandchildren. She is survived by two brothers: Dr. Dean (Phyllis) Flock of Laramie WY, and Col. George Flock, Ret. of Papillion NE, daughter-in-law Janice Nelson of Winnetoon, NE, son Cary and Michelle Nelson of Trinidad, CO, grandchildren: Walter and Keri Nelson of Crawford, NE, Delacia and Mark Hartman of Fremont NE, Kathryn and Brian Kaufman of Springview NE, Decklyn and Amy Nelson of Nampa ID, Anna and Ty Wilson of Burwell NE, Whitney Nelson of Trinidad CO, eleven great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and “adopted family” across the world.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 8, 2022, 10:00 am at the United Methodist Church in Gordon, Nebraska. Burial will be held in the Gordon Cemetery.