Helen E. Nelson

Helen Elizabeth Nelson, 93, Sioux City died Tuesday, March 24, 2014, at Sunrise Retirement Community.
Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. The Rev. Timothy Bonney of Grace United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home.
Helen was born on Oct. 7, 1920, in Sioux City, the daughter of Wendell and Rita (McNally) Abbey. She was raised in Sioux City and graduated from East High School and attended Morningside College.
Helen married Franklin Nelson on Aug. 19, 1944, in Baltimore, Md. They celebrated 60 years of marriage before his passing on April 2, 2005, in Sioux City. Helen worked as an operator at Bell Telephone Company prior to having her family.
She was a longtime and very active member of Grace United Methodist Church. She also belonged to P.E.O. Chapter JH, Garden Club and several other organizations. Helen was a very creative person who loved cooking, sewing, knitting and other creative endeavors. She was very active in sports including tennis, golf and swimming. She was also an avid bridge player. What she loved most was spending time with family and friends in Sioux City and at their cabin in Bemidji, Minn. Helen will be remembered for her kindness and her generosity to all.
She is survived by her daughter, Abby and Jerry Fiat of Salt Lake City, Utah; two sons, Craig Nelson of San Diego, Calif., and Frank Nelson of Salt Lake City; two grandchildren, Jessie Fiat and her husband, Drew von Lintel, and Kyle Fiat and his fiancee, Dena Voluse; and a great-grandson, Tatum von Lintel.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and two brothers, Howard and David Abbey.
Memorial contributions could be sent to Grace United Methodist Church, Sunrise Retirement Community or Hospice of Siouxland.
The family wishes to thank the Sunrise Retirement Community for all their loving care