NELSON, Lois K.

Lois K. Nelson, 90, of Minden died Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 at Kearney County Health Services ��" Long Term Care in Minden. Lois was born January 31, 1921 in Minden to Harry and Ida (Warp) Jensen. She grew up in the Minden area. Lois attended and was confirmed at Fredericksburg Lutheran Church. She attended Zyba School and graduated from Minden High School in 1938. Lois completed her cosmetologist license in 1939 and worked in Bassett and then in Minden where she opened her own Beauty Shop in 1940. Lois sold her shop in 1943 and moved to East Los Angeles, California where she worked for Wilcox Plastics. In 1944, she returned to Nebraska and worked at the Kearney Air Base packing parachutes for the duration of the war. She re-opened her Beauty Shop in 1945 where she continued to serve her customers until closing her shop in 1947. She was united in marriage to Vergil (Nick) Nelson on August 7, 1947 at Fredericksburg Lutheran Church. They purchased their home in Minden in 1950. After her marriage to Nick, she became a member of the United Methodist Church in Minden, always willing to share her time and talents to help fill the needs of the church. She also enjoyed sharing her home, time and talents with family and friends; always making sure the coffee was hot and there was food on the table when someone stopped by for a visit. She also enjoyed writing poetry, and wrote the lyrics to “Good Old Nebraska” one of the songs submitted for consideration as the official state song. Lois began spinning demonstrations at the Pioneer Village in 1963. She continued to demonstrate and teach spinning for 43 years, ultimately starting her own business, Lois' Homespun House, teaching spinning and selling spinning wheels and supplies. She was an “Artist in Residence” and was a founding member of the Prairie Fibers Weavers and Spinners Guild. She enjoyed sharing her love of spinning with the thousands of children that visited the Pioneer Village during the last 4 decades. Survivors include her daughter, Kay Iacono and husband Eugene of Weatherford, Texas; son Marshall Nelson and wife Peggy of Kearney; 3 grandchildren, Nikelle Iacono , Robert Nelson and Vergil Nelson all of Kearney; one sister, Ardyce Cheshire of Long Beach, CA and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews from all across the country whose lives she touched. She was preceded in death by her husband Vergil (Nick) Nelson, one grand-child Timothy Iacono and two brothers, Harold Jensen and Wesley Jensen. Funeral services were held Saturday, September 24th, 2011 at the United Methodist Church in Minden at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Nancy Lambert officiating. Visitation will be at the Layton-Craig Funeral Home on Friday from 3-5 and 7-8 p.m. Burial will be in the Minden Cemetery.