Obituary of Albert C. "Al" Nelson

Albert C. Nelson “Al”, 74, of Cambridge passed away peacefully on June 6, 2017 at his home. 

Al was born at Granite Falls, MN on August 23, 1942 to Elmer and Leona (Murtaugh) Nelson Sr.  Al grew up on his parents farm in Mantorville, MN.  After graduating from Kasson-Mantorville High School, he entered the US Air Force.  He married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Alrick on June 21, 1963.  They were blessed with two sons Shawn and Shannon, who were born at the Air Force hospital in Minot, ND.  Al was a Pharmacist Specialist in the Air Force.

Upon leaving the Air Force, his family moved to Rochester, MN in December 1965.  Shortly thereafter, in 1967, they moved to Apple Valley for his job at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital as Director of Purchasing and then onto Crookston as an Assistant Administrator at the Crookston Hospital. 

In 1973 they moved to West Rush Lake and Al became the Hospital Administrator at Rush City Hospital. In 1979 he accepted a new position as an Administrator with the Cambridge Medical Clinic.  Al spent his last working years as a consultant in the Twin Cities.

His love of family and friends were first on his list with hunting, fishing, racquetball, golf, umpiring and coaching his church softball teams at Cambridge Lutheran church and the youth team at Calvary Lutheran at Rush Point.  On Wednesday evenings, Dorothy and Al spent their time at Cambridge Lutheran Church as Logos Table Parents for eight years where they became great friends of many children.

Left to cherish Al’s memory is his wife Dorothy; sons Shawn (Paula) of Grasston, MN., and Shannon (Tamie) of West Rush Lake. Grandfather of:  Paul of Forest Lake, Shawna of Millcreek, WA, Tyler of Forest Lake and Ashley of West Rush Lake.  Great-Grandfather of: Leah, Sarah, Jude, Lucy.  Also survived by his step-mother Marion Nelson of West Liberty, IA; brothers Elmer “Ole” (Grace) of Gainesville, FL., Rich (Sue) Olive of Mantorville, MN., Harold Nelson of Silverton, OR., Leonard (Mary Sue) of Des Moines, IA., Gene (Brenda) Nelson of Iowa City, LA., Vania (Leo) Kirkpatrick of West Liberty, IA.; In-laws, Jean (Dick) Hunter of Rochester, MN, ,Robert Alrick of Longmont, CO., David (Debbie) Alrick of Leech Lake, MN., and Gary (Sheila) Alrick of Rochester, MN.

A time of gathering will be held on Friday June 16, 2017 at Cambridge Lutheran Church 621 Old N. Main St. from 5 -7:30 PM.  A celebration of Al’s life will be at 11 AM Saturday June 17, 2017 at Cambridge Lutheran Church.  Military honors will follow the service outside of church. Interment will be at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.