Evelyn was born in Great Falls, Montana on January 10, 1928, to Donald and Levora Hoffman. She grew up with her older brother Wallace in their family home in Great Falls, graduating from Great Falls High School in 1945. She died on February 5, 2024, in Helena surrounded by family and friends.
World War II and the Great Depression were a part of her childhood and teenage memories, but so was what she referred to as “her perfect childhood” of riding bikes, playing tennis, and going to the Missouri River. Though money was too tight for her to go to college, she, through a family friend, found an opportunity to attend college through the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps program. She graduated in nursing, with a focus on public health, from the University of Minnesota in 1949. She loved her time at college and kept in touch with her fellow nursing friends throughout her life.
After graduating from college, she returned to Great Falls and started her career as a public health nurse at the Cascade County Public Health Department. While in Great Falls, she agreed to a blind date on St. Patrick’s Day, even though she considered canceling as she had two other date invitations for the same night. However, being true to her word, she went on the date and met her future husband, Ed Nelson.
On August 24, 1952, they married in Great Falls and moved to Missoula. They were happily and adorably married for 57 years, until Ed’s passing in 2009.
In Missoula, Evelyn worked at St. Patrick’s hospital until she and Ed welcomed their first son, Mark in 1955. They moved to Helena in 1958 and embraced daughters Ruth and Jean and son Paul to the family. Once Jean, the youngest, was old enough for kindergarten, Evelyn started working as a nurse for Lewis and Clark County Public Health, then Head Start, and eventually the Helena School District. While her initial motivation to become a nurse was driven by the chance to attend college, she found pride and joy in her nursing career throughout her professional life.
As a mother, she liked to have adventures. Often it would be a trip to the national forest with a quick picnic, or a sudden decision to drive to Great Falls, Missoula, or Bozeman or wherever for the day. Many of the family adventures occurred at Ed and Evelyn’s Swan Lake property – from hunting for huckleberries, hiking, floating down the river, cross-country skiing or finding the remains of historic properties. As a grandmother, she continued to have fun and adventures with her six grandchildren, serving as a wise and positive influence in all their lives.
It was truly a blessing to have a mother like her. Her children and grandchildren could not have asked for a more caring, strong, fun, smart and generous mother, and grandmother. She was always supportive of her children’s journeys with grace and love rather than a desire to control those journeys. One of her favorite quotes was, “This above all; To thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
In retirement, Ed and Evelyn traveled throughout the United States, visiting every state at least once. They also went to England, Scotland, Puerto Rico, and on a trip through the Panama Canal. They especially loved their trips to Hawaii and Alaska. Much of their travel time was spent visiting their children who had spread from coast to coast.
Evelyn volunteered for the Montana Historical Society for 14 years where, as she filed documents and photos, she learned more about her favorite place in the world, Montana. She also served as a parish nurse for Plymouth Congregational Church, where she and Ed were two of the founding members of the church.
Evelyn was predeceased by her husband Ed and daughter Ruth. She leaves behind her sons Mark Nelson (Robin), Ronan, MT, and Paul Nelson (Page), Everett, WA, her daughter Jean Nelson-Dean (Bill), Redmond, OR and her son-in-law Dan Rinck, Tabernacle, NJ. She will be fondly remembered by her six grandchildren: Micah Kemper (Michael), Kelly Rinck-Leonard (Dakota), Jacob Nelson, Zachary Dean, Mattea Dean, Scott Rinck and three great-grandchildren.
Services for Evelyn will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational Church, 400 S. Oakes Street, Helena, MT.
The family asks in lieu of flowers, please donate in Evelyn Nelson’s name to Plymouth Congregational Church, 400 S. Oakes Street, Helena, MT 59601 or to the PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization) Scholar Award fund. To donate to the PEO Scholar Award fund, please send a check to PEO, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312, noting that it is for the Scholar Award fund. Or donations can be made online at: https://donations.peointernational.org/peo-donation-psa
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
2:00 p.m.
Saturday March 30, 2024
Plymouth Congregational Church
400 S. Oakes Street
Helena, Montana 59601
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
2:00 p.m.
Saturday March 30, 2024
Plymouth Congregational Church
400 S. Oakes Street
Helena, Montana 59601
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Angela Clark says
I’d like to extend my condolences to Evelyn’s family. Evelyn Nelson was the school nurse at Central Elementary School when I was in my early career as a Special Education Teacher. I looked to Evelyn for guidance and knowledge regarding the connectedness of health and special education needs. She was a great sounding board professionally and personally. I enjoyed her wit, humor and integrity.
Katie White says
I worked with Evelyn when she volunteered at The Montana Historical Society. I was lucky enough to work on many projects with her and get to know her. Evelyn was an amazing woman with so many gifts and talents, but what I remember the most about her is her sweet smile and kind, positive disposition. She adored her family and loved to tell stories about them, we would talk about both our families together. I have so many fond memories of her, and we are very grateful for her many years of volunteer service and dedication to the Montana Historical Society. We were lucky to call her a friend.