January 26,2022 Mildred Nelson, 95
Funeral Celebration of Life Services for Mildred Nelson, age 95, of Lenox, who passed away Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at the Lenox Care Center will be held Monday, January 24, 2022 at 2:00 PM at the Lenox Christian Church. Visitation will be held Sunday at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Lenox from 2 to 4 PM with the family greeting friends. Interment will be held at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Memorials may be given in Mildred’s name. Memories may be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford where we ‘Celebrate Life’.
Mildred May Wright was born April 20, 1926, at the family home in Gravity, Iowa and passed away January 18, 2022, at the Lenox Care Center in Lenox, Iowa.
Mildred was the daughter of David ‘Ben’ Bennett Wright and Florence Lillian (Bullock) Wright. She was the 9th of 10 children, 5 boys and 5 girls made up the family. She attended Dunning Country School in Taylor County and rode her pony ‘Sparkle’ to school and back, along with three of her brothers and a sister, Helen. She would go and stay with her older sisters a week at a time in the summer and play with their children. During early high school, they paid $3 a week room and board for her to stay in town during the week. She also helped take care of children for a family who had the drug store. During her junior and senior years of high school, she worked at Galey’s Grocery Store after her parents moved to town. She enjoyed visiting with the customers. She graduated from Bedford High School with the Class of 1944. After graduation, she worked for the War Department at St. Joseph, Missouri; then for Paul Parrish, State Representative in Des Moines, Iowa and later for Ralph Jones’ law office in Bedford. During this time, Mildred had four brothers in the United States Navy, all at the same time, during World War II. She lost her next older brother, Lyle, who was buried at sea.
Mildred was united in marriage to Dean Nelson at the Bedford Christian Church Parsonage in Bedford, Iowa on November 30, 1947. The couple made their home on a farm south of Clearfield, and were blessed with two children, Harold Dean and Harriet Jean.
In 1957, the couple purchased the family farm northwest of Clearfield. Mildred had a large garden, canning and freezing food, and also raised chickens. She enjoyed sewing, making many quilts and baby quilts throughout the years. She was a hard worker, and a meticulous housekeeper. She was a member of the Neighborhood Club, Federated Club, CWF, and taught Sunday School. She was also a member of the Clearfield Christian Church, and later the Lenox Christian Church. In 1981, the couple moved into Lenox. They enjoyed traveling when time allowed, having been to both coasts. She worked several years at Taylor Ridge as a cook and activity person. She took pride in her cookies, baking once a week for the neighbor’s children, and daycare children who delivered her mail every day. She loved talking with them and watching them play outside. She enjoyed seeing her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, looking forward to each of their visits.
Left to cherish Mildred’s memory are her two children, Harold Nelson of Clearfield, Iowa; Harriet Bergantzel and husband Roger of Henderson, Iowa; brother, Cecil Wright of Des Moines, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Alvina Wright of Oregon; a brother-in-law and wife, Paul and Joan Nelson of Clearfield, Iowa; five grandchildren, Brian and Susie Nelson; Allison and Aaron Angle; Clayton Nelson and Angie; Jess Bergantzel; Jill and Jason Matter; 13 great-grandchildren, Cameron, Courtney, Austin, Alan, Cedric, Cassidy, Colby, Trenidy, Dawson, Kaylee, Brenna, Kayla, and Macklin, along with many other family members and friends.
Mildred is preceded in death by her loving husband of sixty-eight years, Dean Nelson in April of 2016; her daughter-in-law, Rebecca Nelson in August of 2021; her parents; brothers and sisters and their spouses, Alice and Ralph Murphy; Mabel and Merrill Vawter; Walter and Ruby Wright; Hazel and Kenneth Moore; Wayne and Beverly Wright; Lee Wright; Helen Schoenbauer; Lyle Wright; and Verla Wright; sisters-in-law and husbands, Darlene and Raymond Taylor and Thelma and Dale Brown.
May God bless Mildred’s memory and give strength to those who mourn her.
