Richard Dick Lee Nelson, Sr.
Richard "Dick" Lee Nelson, Sr.
Richard “Dick” Lee Nelson, Sr. lost his battle with Alzheimer’s on Sunday Dec. 4, 2016. Dick was born April 4, 1938 in Minnesota, where he lived until he graduated and later married.
In 1960 Dick married his sweetheart JoAnne Snyder and they proceeded to move to Libby. When they arrived in Libby he found work at the J. Neils Lumber Mill where he continued to work for 32 years. He was proud of the fact that he worked his way up from the green chain to a carbide saw filer, something at which he excelled and even continued to do at home after his retirement.
Dick spent a lot of time camping after his retirement. He enjoyed it so much he took a volunteer position as a camp host at Thompson Lake, which gave him plenty of time for two of his favorite things, fishing and talking. He made many new friendships during his time as host.
Dick loved the outdoors and everything about it. Some of his favorite hobbies included fishing, hunting and camping with his family and friends. He especially loved to go fishing. But as much as he loved that he enjoyed telling the stories about fishing even more. The fish always seemed to grow in size and weight with each passing year.
You could always see him riding around on his four-wheeler. He especially enjoyed plowing out his friends and neighbors in the winter months. I think he secretly wanted more snow just so he could do it.
He had an impish quality about him and liked to play practical jokes...especially on his children and grandkids.
He always enjoyed having coffee and doughnuts with his friends of which he had many. It didn’t matter if it was around the table at home or around the campfire by the lake. It was the highlight of his day to sit and visit with someone.
He is survived by his wife JoAnne, his three daughters, Theresa (Dave) Muniz, Connie (Jeff) David, Jeanne (Rod) Nelson and one son Richie Nelson Jr.; eight grandchildren David (Brittani) Muniz, Cameron Muniz, Josh (Katie) Nelson, Ashlee (Coby) Hash, Nick David, Steven Shelmerdine, Zack (Rosemarie) Nelson and Josie (Thor) Nelson; nine great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind many other family members and friends.
Dick loved ice cream, He could literally eat about 1/4 gallon a day and somedays more and he was lucky enough to have the metabolism to eat It without gaining a pound. Something we were all jealous of.
The family is going to have an “ice-cream” social memorial for Dick on Saturday Dec. 10, 2016 between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., at the Fjord room at the Venture Inn. Please come and share your memories with the family and enjoy an ice cream sundae (or two as Dick would always have). Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.