Helen Nelson, 90, Webster, died April 11, 2025 at Bethesda Home, Webster.
Memorial services were April 18 at Fiksdal Funeral Service and were livestreamed. Inurnment was at Webster Cemetery.
Helen Elaine Holland was born August 12, 1934, to Jacob and Isabelle (Sampson) Holland at Bristol. She was baptized and confirmed at Tabor Lutheran Church. She attended a country school near the family home until moving to Webster to attend high school, graduating in 1952.
She married James “Fred” Martinson Sept. 28, 1952 at Tabor Lutheran Church. They lived in Webster and owned and operated Martinson Construction.
She was a member of American Lutheran Church, Webster where she served as the first female church council president and taught catechism. She enjoyed reading, painting and dancing.
Fred died in 1996. In July 2002, she married Ted Nelson. They enjoyed wintering in California until his death in 2016. She continued to live in her home at Webster until 2022, when she moved to Bethesda Home.
Survivors include her children, Greg Martinson, Carol and Warren Barse, Sioux Falls and Brian Martinson, Webster; seven grandchildren, several great-grandchildren; sister, Selma Evenson, Sioux Falls; sister-in-law, Elaine Holland, Webster; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands; siblings, Edwin Holland, Lorraine Peterson, Sherman Holland, Irene Tvinnereim, Harriet Evenson, Judith Barber, Serine Althoff and Emma Waddle.