Covenant News

Memorial Service on Sunday for Doris Nelson

SPOKANE, WA (October 19, 2004) - A memorial service will be conducted this coming Sunday afternoon for Doris Nelson, wife of pastor Chet Nelson, who died unexpectedly last Saturday.

The service will be held at 4 p.m. at First Covenant Church, 212 South Division Street, in Spokane. Although all of the details are not yet confirmed, Covenant News Service was advised that Doris was attending a women's retreat when she became ill and later died at a local hospital, possibly having suffered a heart attack.

More information will be posted to this online Covenant news report as it becomes available. Information also may be obtained by calling the church office at 509-747-2818.

Doris Nelson was born on February 6, 1934, at home in Hilmar California, the third child and only daughter of Elmer and Esther Wickstrom. She grew up on her parents' dairy farm and attended Hilmar elementary and high schools, graduating in 1951. She attended Azusa Pacific Bible College before transferring to North Park College (now University) where she graduated with an associate degree in Christian Education.

While at college she met her future husband, Chet Nelson, from Garfield, Minnesota, who was preparing for service in ministry. Their courtship continued during his year as an intern pastor in Savonburg Covenant Church in Savonburg, Kansas. He followed her back to California and enrolled in San Jose State College. They were married on April 24, 1955. The next 10 years were busy ones for Doris with the birth of their three children; Lynda Klymko of Spokane, Washington; Leslie Thorpe of Doha, Qatar; and Kelvin Nelson of Kehei, Maui, all of whom graduated from North Park. College, and several moves as Chet finished his seminary degree and was assigned to ministry positions in United Methodist churches in Southern California.

Doris occasionally worked as a substitute teacher while she was raising their children and partnering with her husband in his ministry. In 1967 Doris began a career working with the Social Welfare Administration that would last for over 20 years in both California and Washington states. She moved from case worker to supervisor and eligibility supervisor during her social service career. In 1977 Chet and Doris moved to Spokane where Chet worked with the Boy Scouts of America as a district executive. During the next 20 years Chet returned to active ministry, pastoring the Minnehaha Covenant Church in Spokane, where Doris was an active partner in his ministry. In 1995 they accepted a call to the Port Allegany Covenant Church in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania, and began six years of active ministry in that small northern Pennsylvania town. During that time Doris was active with the Salvation Army organization determining levels of need for area families, and picking up and delivering Christmas gifts donated for needy families. She also further developed her creative side by attending yearly quilting retreats held in the area and completing many beautiful projects, including a "tree of life" quilt to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Port Allegany Covenant Church, which still hangs in the church building.

She was an active scrapbooker, card maker using decorative stamps, and many other mediums, which she used as unique greeting cards for friends and family. Doris died on Saturday, October 16, at age 70, just six months short of celebrating her 50th anniversary with Chet.

It is suggested that memorial gifts be sent to either First Covenant Church Memorial Fund, 212 S. Division Street, Spokane, WA, 99202, or to Hamblen Park Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 4102 South Crestline, Spokane, WA, 99203.

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