BENJAMIN H. NELSON

Benjamin Henry Nelson was born August 5^th 1952 on Holloman Air Force base Alamogordo, NM to Dora and Richard Nelson.  He died November 14^th 2023 at home in Cooperstown, ND.

      He lived in several different places as his father was in the military, one that had a great affect on Ben was living in Turkey for 2 years when he was a teenager.  He had many interests, as a grade-schooler he learned how to polish rocks and make jewelry from a man that lived down the street.  He went door to door selling his wares.  His passion was fishing and hunting.  Ben graduated from Midwest City High School, Midwest City, OK in 1971.  He joined the Army that summer.  He married Medora McCay on August 13^th 1976 in Bismarck, ND.

      Ben was always the one to catch fish even if no one else present did.  He loved to go primitive camping with his family.  A special spot was Lake Sakakawea.  He went on many goose hunting trips and other great outdoor adventures with his brother- in- law Blake Ding.  He was especially proud to have gone on a successful moose hunt with Blake.  In recent years he was proud that his grandchildren took such an interest in shooting, hunting and fishing.

He loved listening to and playing music.  He learned to play the violin in school a couple years, and then as an adult he started practicing and went on to entertain many with his playing.

       Bens career was in Radar.  He was stationed in Korea during his years of service.  He went to Wahpeton State College and obtained an Associates Degree in Electronics.  He went on to work all over the western US in seismograph oil exploration.  He then hired on with the FAA as a Long Range Radar Technician at Finley, ND for 37 years.  Upon retirement he bought a building and opened a gun shop in Cooperstown.  It was his passion until his death.

       His greatest treasures were his family and friends, and what a friend, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather and great grandfather he was and will remain in our hearts forever.

       His faith in God, the love for everyone around him and his strong wife carried him through a very long, painful medical journey the last 13 years.

       He is preceded in death by his daughter Elizabeth,  Parents, brother Rick, sister-in-law Maxine Burdine, brother-in-law Blake Ding and mother-in-law Alice O’Connell.

       He is survived by his wife Medora, son Benjamin, brothers Roger (Sharon) Nelson New Prague, MN, James Nelson Burns, OR, sisters Shanna Nelson Seattle, WA, Debbie(Cliff) Maier Kalispell, MT, sisters-in-law Margaret (Ken )Smidt, Hartford, SD, Selma (Bob) Kerzman, Lincoln ND,  brothers-in-law Bob (Bev) McCay, John Busse, both Bismarck, Father-in-law Ben McCay Mandan. Grandchildren, Grace (Tyler) Iwen, Williston, ND Hawken, Corbin and Purdee Nelson Jamestown,/ Cooperstown, and great-grandson Ryder Iwen and many nieces and nephews that were so special to him.

Visitation will be Monday, November 20, 2023 from 5:00 till 7:00 pm in the Quam-Plaisted-Cushman Funeral Home, Cooperstown, ND, with a Prayer Service at 6:00 pm.  Visitation will continue Tuesday,  November 21, 2023 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm in Trinity Lutheran Church, Cooperstown, ND, followed by a Funeral Service at 2:00 pm.