Leonard H. Nelson, 91, formerly of Douglas, left this world and joined his beloved wife in heaven on April 16, 2014. Nelson was a resident at the Benedictine Living Center in Garrison, North Dakota. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on April 23, 2014 at 10:30 am at the St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Garrison with Father John Kandathiparambil as officiant.   Arrangements are with Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison, ND. Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 from 2 to 6 pm at Thompson Funeral Home.   Rosary will be at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at the St. Nicholas Catholic Church.   Burial will follow at the North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery, south of Mandan, ND with full military honors provided by the AMVETS Post 9 Honor Guard of Bismarck at 3 pm.

Leonard was born on December 30, 1922, to Ole and Carrie Nelson. He was the youngest of seven children. Leonard grew up on the family farm five miles SW of Douglas. He attended school in Douglas.   After graduation he worked for a number of years in Minnesota and Texas for his brother-in-law, Irvin Gunter in the bee business. He enlisted in the Army and was part of the build-up for the invasion of Japan. Nelson was honorably discharged in 1946. He resumed working in the bee business.

On January 20, 1949, he married Evelyn White in Walhalla, North Dakota. They remained in Walhalla until spring, at which time Leonard took over the family farm. Leonard farmed all his life. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Garrison for over 60 years. Leonard enjoyed playing cribbage, solving crossword puzzles and was an avid reader.

Those left to cherish his memory are sons, James (Alice), Bismarck, Norman (Joe) (Nita), Douglas; daughters; Carrie (Mark) Ahmann, Max, Gail (Dan) Leidholm, Coleharbor, and Brenda Ferri, Hopkinton, Mass. Grandchildren: James (JJ), Jodi (Brad) Meyer, Jesse and Cody Ahmann, Douglas (Nikki), Dwight and Scott Leidholm, Jackie and Jeffrey Ferri. Step-grandchildren Susanne Selensky and Jeremy Johnson along with great grandchildren: Jackson and Henry Meyer and Addison Leidholm, Step-great grandchildren Luke and Brooke Selensky and Dillon, Faith, Grace, and Maddison Johnson. He is also remembered by numerous nieces and nephews; special nephews Neil Narum and Dick Gunter and Jean Blonigen, his niece who was more of a daughter.

Leonard is preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, parents, one brother, Norman Nelson, and five sisters, Clara Narum, Myrtle Guenther, Ruth Budahl, Helen Norquist, and Alice Blonigen.