Norlan Nelson, 81, Garrison, died on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at the Garrison Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11:00 am at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garrison. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Minot at 2:00 pm.
Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2 to 7 at Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison.

Norlan was born February 28, 1935 in Garrison, ND to Nels and Gladys (Hanson) Nelson. He and his two sisters, Anna and Yvonne, one brother, Bernard, and his parents lived on a farm 26 miles west and two miles south of Garrison. He attended the first grade in Makoti, ND and second through fourth grades at Buffalo Rock County School located 1.5 miles south of the Nelson farm. In his fifth year of school he transferred to the Garrison school system, graduating from Garrison High School in 1953. Following high school, Norlan attended NDAC (North Dakota Agricultural College), now known as NDSU, majoring in electrical engineering.
Norlan married Margie Fischer on October 5, 1958 in Parshall, ND at the Lutheran parsonage. They made their first home on Norlan's parents' farm west of Garrison. He and his brother, Bernard, farmed and ranched together west of Garrison and southwest of Rhame, ND for almost 40 years. Norlan retired from farming in 1997.
Norlan had a passion and love for music. During his high school years he formed a number of dance bands. A few that he created were the Dead Beat Bums, Star Lighters, and the Blue Notes. The theme song for all of them was "Blue Moon". While attending college he participated in the NDAC Fargo Gold Star Band. His love for music continued all of his life, being involved with numerous bands throughout the area. His gift of song also offered opportunities in several different choirs and quartets. Norlan was also an avid tenor sax player. He donated his sax to the Garrison High School in hopes that someone would use it and share his passion for music.

Norlan was very active in the Garrison community and area boards. He was a part of the McLean County ASCS Committee and Garrison Rural Fire Dept. Board. He was also on the Farmers Union Elevator board and the Reservation Telephone board serving as president for both for a number of years.

Norlan is survived by his wife of 57 years, Margie, Garrison; daughter, Bonnie Avery (Christopher McCurdy), Oxford, MS; grandchildren, Tara (Kelly) Cooper, Marta Dees-Tanna, Korben Avery; great grandchildren, Austin, Chasen, and Bailey Cooper; brother, Bernard Nelson; daughter-in-law, Julie Reimers; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Barry, sisters, Anna Fuller and Yvonne Beaver, grandson-in-law, Ankur Tanna, sister-in-law, Carol Nelson, and brothers-in-law, William Fuller and Duane Beaver.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to the Garrison Ambulance or Camp of the Cross of Garrison.