Laura Nelson

Laura Nelson, 87, Mesa, Arizona, formerly of the Medora area, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005, at Chula Vista Care Center in Mesa. Funeral services are 10 a. m. , Saturday, May 14, 2005, at Union Congregational ? UCC Church in Medora, with Rev. Ilo Madden, officiating. Interment will be in Medora Community Cemetery, Medora. Laura G. Connell was born on September 8, 1917, in Billings County to Byron T. and Gertrude (Reid) Connell. She briefly attended school in Bismarck, but returned to Medora where she graduated in 1936. During and after high school, she worked at the Eaton Ranch in Billings County tending the children and doing various ranch chores. She married Arthur B. Clare in Medora and together they moved to Baker, Mont. , to make their home until his death. In 1949, Laura married Al Kimbro, and they made their home in New England. Al died on July 2, 1961. In the spring of 1964, she married Clifford Nelson. She and Cliff made their home on a farm south of New England. Clifford died on June 6, 1975. Laura continued to operate the farm for one year prior to moving to Dickinson. In January of 1978, Laura visited her sister in Apache Junction, Ariz. , and decided to make Arizona her home during the winters months for the next 25 years. In June of 2000, Laura moved to Country Club of LaCholla in Tucson to be near her daughter. Her last place of residence was at a care facility in Mesa. Laura loved to volunteer and enjoyed working at the Dakota Dinosaur Museum in Dickinson and helping out at Dickinson Sate University as needed. She loved animals, music, attending musical events and dancing. Laura was a truly kind and gentle lady who took pride in her home and family and never said anything to harm another. She was a past member of the First Congregational Church in New England, Eastern Star, VFW Auxiliary and the Jolly ?8? Homemakers club of New England. She is survived by one daughter, Veronta (Paul) St. Clair, Tucson, Ariz. ; two sons, Patrick Albert (Delores) Kimbro, Albuquerque, NM and Michael James Kimbro, Scottsdale, Ariz. ; one grandchild, Jenny Kimbro, Albuquerque, NM; three step-children, Morris (LaVerne) Nelson, Manford, OK, Linda (Alan) Butts, Bismarck, ND, Thomas (Sandy) Nelson, Dickinson, ND; four sisters, Minnie Olive Kinmark, Klamath Falls, OR, Lucille Jacobson, Apache Junction, Ariz. , Bertha (Jerry) Shelley, Fort Myers, FL and Dona Wood, Palm Harbor, FL; one brother, Guy (Carol) Connell, Dickinson, ND and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bryon T. and Gertrude Connell, husbands, Arthur Clare, Albert Kimbro and Clifford Nelson; one son, Arthur ?Sonny? Clare; two sisters, Zella Fong, Helen Hill; three brothers, Leslie, Jack, and William Connell.


Burial Date: May 14, 2005
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Service: Saturday, Union Congregational- UCC Church, Medora