Obituary of Larry O. Nelson

OBITUARY Larry O. Nelson (70) longtime St. Maries area resident died July 26, 2014 in Coeur d' Alene, ID. He was born December 8, 1943 to Ray and Amy (Norbeck) Nelson in Wallace, ID. Larry grew up and attended grade school in Plummer, ID. He spent most of his youth exploring Heyburn State Park where his dad was park superintendent. In the seventh grade, his family moved to St. Maries where he graduated from St. Maries High School in 1961. Following high school, Larry attended College of Idaho in Caldwell, ID where he played football. He returned to St. Maries where he drove log trucks for Alfred Price, Clarence Shepherd, and Fred Guenther. He married Jerry Lee Gragg in 1964 in Boise, ID. The Army drafted him to serve in Vietnam in 1966. He proudly served his country and earned four medals for bravery and selfless service in combat, including the Air Medal. When he returned from Vietnam in 1968, he bought his first of many trucks and started hauling logs. In 1981 Larry went to work in Fairbanks, Alaska. The family relocated with him for one year before moving back to St. Maries. Larry was divorced in 1984. He continued to live and work in Alaska until 1986. He hauled everything from logs to lumber to giant land excavators. At one time he said he would haul anything except a trailer house. In 1996 he went out on the road as a long haul truck driver where he traveled a majority of the 50 states. Of all the states he traveled to and worked in, Alaska was his favorite. His home was always St. Maries, but his heart was in Alaska. Larry pulled his truck over for the last time in 2005 when he decided it was time to retire. Larry enjoyed working hard, traveling the country, working on his trucks, reading, and spending time with his friends telling stories. He could often be found trading jokes and bragging about his grandson with friends at his favorite local watering holes. He was also a 50 year member of the St. Maries Elks Lodge. He is survived by his son, David Nelson, of St. Maries and daughter, Nancy Nelson Shepherd, of Hayden. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Janice and Max Norris, of Ohio, and one grandson, Reid Bartholdt, of Hayden. He was preceded in death by his parents, one nephew, and his brother Michael Nelson. A celebration of his life will be held on August 15, 2014 at 2:00 pm at the St. Maries Elks Lodge with Floyd and Nancy Turner officiating. A gathering of family and friends will follow services at the Elks Lodge. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the St. Maries Elks Lodge or American Legion. Visit his online memorial and sign his guest book at www.hodgefuneralhome.com Read Larry Nelson's Obituary and Guestbook on www.hodgefuneralhome.com.