Donna ""Bunny"" Nelson

Donna R. Nelson, age 74, of Litchfield died on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at the Emmanuel Home in Litchfield. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 15, 2010 at the First Lutheran Church in Litchfield with Pastor Christa Forsythe officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 14, 2010 from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM at the Jonson-Hagglund Funeral Home in Litchfield and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. Interment will be in the Lake Ripley Cemetery. Donna Ruth “Bunny” Nelson was born near Star Lake on November 14, 1935, to Leslie and Ruth Fredrickson. She and her siblings Peter, Keith and Betty, grew up near Litchfield, Minnesota. Donna was baptized at Beckville Lutheran and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield. On September 4, 1953, Donna was married to Douglas Eugene Nelson of Litchfield, Minnesota. After a brief stay in Montana, Doug and Donna settled in Litchfield to eventually raise four children: Kelvin, Heidi, Timothy and Andrew. Donna was principally a homemaker, but also worked at Gambles Hardware store in Litchfield for many years. She was an excellent seamstress, and was known for her talent in softsculpture crafts. She enjoyed a good joke and had a ready smile. She liked to tend flowers and bake, and she had a soft heart for animals and children. Though a series of illnesses made her later years difficult, Donna was cared for in her home and loved by her husband, Doug. In 2008, she took up residence at the Emmanuel Lutheran nursing home in Litchfield and had Doug by her side every day until her passing on February 11, 2010. Doug and Donna were married for over 57 years. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Leslie and Ruth and by her brother Peter Fredrickson. She is survived by her husband, Douglas of Litchfield, children Kelvin (and Kathy) Nelson of Litchfield, Heidi (and Greg) Johnson of Litchfield, Timothy (and Colleen) Nelson of Grove City, Andrew (and Christine) Nelson of Foreston, brother Keith (and Julie) Fredrickson of Litchfield, and sister Betty Groskreutz of Litchfield. Donna was a loving and devoted wife and mother, and leaves behind eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”