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Public service was the defining value of Howard Nelson's life. It was a value that he exemplified through the years as a businessman, a firefighter, a community volunteer and as an elected official.

Nelson was born in Milltown, Wis., November 25, 1912. He married Dorothy Palmquist in 1939 and together they raised five children-Carol, Marcia, Kris, Pete and George. Howard passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on March 31, 2008. He was 95 years old.

Howard was elected to represent his community in the Minnesota House where he served from 1958-1960 and was later elected to the Minnesota Senate where he served from 1962-1970.

Current Minnesota House Minority Leader Marty Siefert said "Howard was one of the titans of Minnesota government during the 60s." He was always trying to find a way to make things work better and worked on significant legislation during his 10 years in state office.  He was continuously active as a volunteer leader in the community of Lindstrom, serving as a member of the volunteer fire department beginning in 1942. He was inspired to join the fire department when he witnessed a neighboring building burn while the firefighters struggled to hook up hoses, that did not match the hydrant hook ups. Howard grabbed a garden hose and worked to fight the fire. Because he had witnessed the problems that existed with non-standardized fire equipment, he went to work for a national standard, which succeeded in making fire equipment universal around the country.

Locally during his time as a firefighter, he organized the Volunteer Fireman's Relief Association and created the first contracts between rural township fire departments and cities from surrounding communities. He also served as Lindstrom's assistant fire chief and fire chief for 10 years.

Nelson also held leadership posts in other Lindstrom community groups including the Lindstrom Commercial Club, the Parent Teacher Association and at Trinity Lutheran Church. He was active in the Boy Scouts re-organizing local scout troop #159, and is surely proud that his great-grandson Michael is working toward becoming an Eagle Scout. Howard was also a member of the Masonic Hiram Lodge #287 and of the Osman Shriners, where he loved handing out free circus tickets to kids in need every year.

Howard was a "doer," and was active in his community from a young age. He graduated from Milltown High School where he was active in basketball, football, track, baseball, folk dancing, gymnastics, school plays and operas. He always loved being physically active. He climbed the rocks along the St. Croix River, famously posing for a photo on the landmark "Devil's Chair." He hiked around his town of Lindstrom everyday until his recent illness kept him at home. He knew instinctively that a physically active lifestyle and "moderation in all things" was a recipe for good health. He took up golfing late in life, and enjoyed playing with his kids and grand kids. At 85 he could still golf 18 holes.

Howard exemplified the Scandinavian work-ethic. He graduated from high school during the height of the depression and he set out looking for work. He criss-crossed the country taking any jobs available in towns from Wisconsin to California-and back again. He was always ready and willing to take on any challenge. In one North Dakota town, a farmer was looking for some men to top sugar beets and Howard and a friend jumped at the chance to work. On the way out to the farm his buddy asked, "Do we know anything about working with sugar beets?" Howard replied-with a wink and a nod, "We know everything about sugar beets."

He returned to the Midwest and in 1936, he founded one of the first meat-locker plants in the state of Minnesota, and was instrumental in the development of the locker-plant industry.

His partner in the early days of the meat locker business, Cy Palmquist had a pretty sister named Dorothy who caught Howard's eye. One day he asked her, "How would you like to take a trip with me?" At the time, it would have been unheard of for an unmarried couple to travel together, so a surprised Dorothy said, "We can't take a trip together." To which Howard said, "I mean a trip for the rest of our lives." Thus began their life-long adventure.

Howard loved to travel, and as he traveled through life with his wife Dorothy, he saw the world from England to Hawaii. One of his greatest travel adventures came in 1993, when at age 80 he took his Uncle George A. Nelson's diary and used it to retrace George's steps through the Yukon during the Alaskan gold rush. Howard actually found his uncle's original claim on his solo journey through history, and he recorded his adventure on video, sharing his travels and introducing his audience to the many interesting people that he met along the way. Howard said he was grateful to have seen so much of this world in his lifetime.

Howard owned and operated Community Market in Lindstrom for more than 40 years, and it was truly a family venture. Dorothy and their five children all worked at the store. Years later, Howard and Dorothy's grandchildren also worked the counter at Community Market, which was surely satisfying to Howard. When Howard decided to retire, he turned the store over to his sons with the stipulation that he'd always have a place to work and he held them to that promise. Howard worked daily at the store that was operated by his son Pete until Pete sold it a few years ago. Howard worked to keep the machinery, much of it that he built himself, running, and he filled in many other roles as needed. When Pete was seriously injured in an accident at the store Howard put on his work boots and headed over to help with the butchering saying, "I can't be of help to him at the hospital, but I can help him at the store." The family recipes for Swedish Sausage, award-winning hams and bacon graced many a family table for the Nelsons over the years, and good food was always a cause for celebration at the Nelson home.

His legacy of public service lives on through his family. Howard is survived by his wife Dorothy; his children Carol Peterson, Marcia Smith (Patrick), Kristine Henley (Richard), Peter C. Nelson (Debra), George Nelson (Teri); by nine grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; by sisters Alma Sands and Ardis McAfee and many nieces, nephews and friends. He will be greatly missed by his family and by the community that he served for so many years.

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