Marna E. Nelson -- Austin

AUSTIN — A memorial service for Marna E. Nelson will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Austin, with the Rev. Patricia Toschak officiating. A family interment service will be in Cedar City Cemetery near Austin.

Mrs. Nelson, 89, of Austin, died Monday (July 14, 2008) at her home.

Marna Elizabeth McFarland was born Sept. 19, 1918, in Mentor, Minn. Her family moved to Austin and she graduated from Austin High School. She married Arthur E. Nelson on Aug. 27, 1938, at First United Methodist Church in Austin. The couple lived in the Austin area, where she was a member of First United Methodist Church, was active with the UMW, and served as chair of the kitchen committee for many years. She had also served as president of the Cedar City Cemetery Board.

Mrs. Nelson was a wonderful cook and enjoyed entertaining family and friends, playing cards, bowling, and traveling with friends.

She is survived by a daughter, Ellen (Roger) Hanson of Elysian, Minn.; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Norma Smeby of Austin; and a brother, Keith (Mary Ellen) McFarland of Roseville, Minn. Other survivors include a daughter-in-law, Sharan Nelson of Cape Coral, Fla.; and in-laws, Joan and Stan Stanek of Austin. She was preceded in death by her husband and a son, Denis Mac Nelson.

Visitation will begin an hour before the service Friday at the church.

The family prefers memorials to the American Lung Association, the First United Methodist Church kitchen committee or the Cedar City Cemetery Association.

Clasen-Jordan Mortuary of Austin is in charge of arrangements.