Jerry Nelson

Jerry Rovang Nelson,  82

Jerry Rovang Nelson 82 of Kalispell, passed away peacefully at home on October 19, 2020 with his family by his side.

Jerry was born on January 13. 1938 in Kalispell to Raymond & Fern Nelson, joining his older sister Betty.   He was
raised in Whitefish MT, graduating from Whitefish High School in 1956. 

Jerry went to Trade school and  worked for BNRR.  In the late 1960's when many were
laid off from the railroad, he went to Seattle and worked in the ship yards as a welder & for the power company
there, then returned to Whitefish and hired back on with BNRR, working for 29 years until he injured his back on the job.
In 1992 Jerry & Sarah bought and ran Pasta-To-Go in the old Gateway west mall,  Jerry built a full sized commercial
kitchen catering and concession trailer that they used to expend the restaurant business, you could find him working
along side his wife, son Burt and mother in law at several of the local events in the valley as well as Big Mountain and
Lost Prairie Sky Dive along with catering many wedding events over the years.
 
His love of old cars started before he had his drivers license., working at a gas station in high school he bought his first car a
1929 Pontiac which he still owns.   Over the years, he bought and restored several antique cars,
A 1956 Mercury, 1953 Pontiac, Buick Skylark convertible, just to name a few, along with daily drivers he would restore
for his wife.  His last project, was helping his son Burt with his 1966 Lincoln Convertible.     He enjoyed going to
swap meets and he spent many car trips to them with friends and his son Burt.   He loved tinkering on many projects
on the farm,  another hobby of his was restoring antique clocks, many still chime the hours each day.  He loved all animals,
and raised many ducks, geese, dogs and cats.  He enjoyed his many friends, morning coffee with  buddies over the years was
a favorite activity for him.

Jerry is survived by his wife Sarah of 35 years, son Burt Ross Fair-Nelson in Kalispell, son Jimmy Nelson in
Spokane and son Jeff Nelson in Kalispell.  His Grand daughter Heather Nelson & great grand daughter
Kennedy in Spokane, grand daughter Jessica Beard & great grand children Ayden, Aston & Chloe in Lewistown.
His brother-in-law Bill Baldwin.. and many beloved nieces/nephews, great nieces/nephews, and many dear
friends he made along his journey.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond & Fern Nelson, Sister Betty Baldwin, Brother
Dallas Nelson, niece's Bonnie McClarty, Sarah Fern Nelson & Dawn, nephew Dallas Raymond Nelson & William
(Will) Potter III, Brother-in-law William (Tim) Potter II, mother-in-law Ruby Dorsey, who left us just 10 days before Jerry.

There will be a celebration of Life on the families favorite summer activity, the annual Fourth of July
potluck and barbecue at the family farm in Kalispell.  A dear friend of the family's, Bill Burback will speak.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jerry Nelson, please visit our floral store.