Edward Leroy Nelson was born on December 31, 1933 in Chester, Montana to Clara and Norval Nelson. He went to be with the Lord on July 7, 2020 in Polson, Montana at the age of 86.
Ed’s parents moved the family from the farm in Chester to Ferndale, Montana when he was 1 ½ years old. He grew up helping on the family strawberry farm. He learned to drive a 1929 Model A pulling the manure wagon through the strawberry fields. Later he and his son Mark totally restored the family Model A.
He graduated from Bigfork High School in 1952 and moved to Bremerton, Washington to work in the ship yards. There he met the love of his life, Iva Jean. After they were married on June 27, 1954 they moved to Bigfork where he started a life long journey to the woods in the logging industry.
Before their first daughter Debbie was born, Ed and Iva Jean moved to Polson and he started driving truck hauling logs from the mountains to the local mills. He bought his first logging truck in 1972 and he, with Mark’s help owned and maintained 5 more trucks over the next 28 years.
Ed enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and camping with his family in the Flathead and in Glacier Park.
After his retirement he spent his days hunting up parts to restore a Model A coupe with a rumble seat. He loved to go to swap meets to find special bargains and spare parts for the cars. He was a member of Spark and Throttle Club, Flathead Pioneer and Classic Auto Club, and the Big Sky A’s model A club from the time it started. He and his family hosted the annual Car Party in May for many years.
He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Polson.
He is survived by his sister Echo (Orvin) Larson of Eureka, Montana and brother Leon (Merry Jayne) Nelson of Bigfork, Montana. He also survived by daughter Debra (Jim) Marmon of Wolf Point, Montana, Patricia (Ronald) Gruss of Butte, Montana, and a son Mark Nelson of Polson, Montana. He is also survived by five grandsons, four great grandsons and one great granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by his parents Clara and Norval Nelson, his wife Iva Jean, his son Stephen Leroy, and his sisters Bernice Grubbe, Margie Ortman, and Evelyn Larson.
Burial will be in Lone Pine Cemetery on July 14, 2020 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church or a charity of your choice.