Thomas "Tom" Allen Nelson, 62, of Mentor, MN, passed away at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, on Saturday, November 11, 2017, with his family by his side.

Tom was born on February 8, 1955, to Leonard and Judith (Jacobson) Nelson in Crookston, MN. The youngest of six children, he grew up in Fertile and graduated from Fertile-Beltrami High School in 1973. After high school, he attended college at the University of Minnesota Crookston for a short time. He then started working for the Beltrami Farmers Elevator (later West Central Ag).

On June 26, 1982, Tom was united in marriage to Debra Jo Werpy at Concordia Lutheran Church in Fertile. They were blessed with two children, April and Adam.  They enjoyed many family activities including camping trips and snowmobiling excursions with family friends.  They resided in Beltrami until moving to Fertile in 1998.

Tom was an active volunteer of the church and community throughout the years. He served as a member and chief of the Beltrami Fire Department and later as a member of the Fertile Fire Department.  He also served on the Sandhill River Golf Course Board of Directors.  In his spare time, he enjoyed deer hunting, ice fishing, golfing, spending time with his yellow lab, Nelly, and living life to the fullest with his friends and family.

Tom loved the lake, spending many summers at Roy Lake growing up. He bought a home on Maple Lake in Mentor in 2012.  In addition to a home, he also acquired wonderful neighbors who became very dear friends.  He enjoyed many pontoon rides and campfires with friends and family.  He officially retired from managing at the elevator in Beltrami in 2016 after 42 years of dedication and service to the farming community.

Tom was very proud of his children and their activities and accomplishments. His grandchildren were a deep source of happiness for him.  He was kind-hearted in nature; always taking a genuine interest in others and their well-being.  His gentle ways, twinkling eyes, warm smile and occasional subtle sarcasm will be remembered by all those who knew him.  Blessed be his memory.

Tom is survived by his children, April (Brian) Grunhovd, of Fertile and Adam Nelson, of Beltrami; four grandchildren, Lexie, Bennett, Hailey and Kendall; his brothers, David (Cecilia), Red Lake Falls, MN, Raymond (Sylvia), Fertile, MN; his sisters, Connie (Vernon) Rasmussen, East Grand Forks, MN, Nancy Vaughn, Fargo, ND, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Sandra.

Funeral: 11:00AM Friday, November 17, 2017, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Fertile, MN.

Visitation: 5:00PM to 7:00PM Thursday, November 16, 2017, with a 7:00PM prayer service at the church.

Burial: Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, Fertile, MN.