Front row: (L to R): Niel Nelson, Asbjorg Nelson, Andrew Nelson, Marvin Nelson. Back row (L to R): Ida (Nelson) Evenson, Arlis (Nelson) Fritsvold, Doris (Nelson) Fisketjon, Lyla (Nelson) Tweet, Betty (Nelson) Bartolomi.
Andrew Nelson came to Canada from Norway in 1913 and entered the United States at Portal, ND, settling in the Red Wing community in 1914. He married Asbjorg Lyderson in 1926 at the Wilmington Lutheran Parsonage in Arnegard.
In the past 30 years, the alzheimers has taken the family matriarch, Asbjorg, her brother, Norman, and six of her children, Doris, Ida, Lyla, Arlis, Niel and Marvin have each suffered and been taken by this devastating disease. The youngest daughter, Betty Lou, currently lives in a memory care unit in Grand Forks, ND.
Each year, the next generation of Nelsons, along with their great grandchildren, spouses and others, come together determined to support finding a cure so other families don't have to suffer this "Long Goodbye". They have vowed to come together each year-not for a funeral- to walk with one another in honor of so many of their loved ones. For several years they have joined together for the Alzheimer's walk in many different locations, but this year they have found their way back to Arnegard to celebrate 100 years since Andrew homesteaded in the Red Wing area, south of Arnegard.
The celebration begins on Friday, June 28 with the Lion's Club Hamburgers in the Park (Nelson) in Arnegard. Music by Tim Transtrom and crew. Lynette Evanson, granddaughter of Andrew and Asbjorg, will speak on the family impact of Alzheimer's.
Karla DeMoe Hornstein will tell the story, "Too Many to Forget", about her family, the Demoes in Tioga at 7 p.m. Each of her six siblings was at risk for the most devastating form of Alzheimer's Early On-Set Familial Alzheimer's Disease.
A silent auction will be held at the park from 6-8.30 p.m. with all proceeds going to the Minnesota-North Dakota Alzheimer's Association on behalf of the Nelson Family Team. Must be present to win. Cash preferred.
In case of rain, speakers and silent auction will be held at the Arnegard Rural Fire Department, 2707 133 3rd Ave. NW. Closing remarks and silent auction winners will be announced by Mark Fritsvold and Barb Johnson, grandchildren of the Nelsons.
Saturday, the Nelson family members will be walking in memory of the family they have lost at 10 a.m. at Kent Pelton Nature Park, 501 7th St. SE, Watford City. They welcome anyone wishing to join them to do so.
Alzheimers disease has ravaged the Nelson family...one of Arnegard's founding families for many years.
Andrew and Asbjorg farmed south of Arnegard. He also owned and operated the Dew Drop Inn in the PDQ building, opened Modern Machine Company and Nelson's Westland Service Station. He served on the Arnegard School Board and the Arnegard City Board.
Asbjorg shared her time on the church board as well as the Ladies Organization with quilting, cooked for the Arnegard School lunch program and the Arnegard Old Peoples Home.
Andrew and Asbjorg donated a tract of land for a city park named the "Andrew Nelson Memorial Park".
The family felt it only appropriate to bring the 100-year walk back to the Arnegard/Watford City area.
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