Stella Nelson, age 89, of Brookings, died Wednesday, March 30, 2005, at the Brookings Hospital. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday, April 2, 2005, at First Lutheran Church in Brookings, with interment at Pioneer Lutheran Cemetery at White, South Dakota. Visitations will be from 4-8 P.M. Friday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Memorials may be directed to the Pioneer Lutheran Cemetery Fund or to First Lutheran Church. Stella (Madsen) Nelson was born December 20, 1915, in Eureka Township, near White, South Dakota, to Jorgen Martinus and Inger Marie (Nielsen) Madsen. She attended country school at Argo District No. 26, and graduated from White High School in 1934. She attended Schuylers School of Cosmetology in Sioux Falls, and worked as a hairdresser for many years, including several years for Charlie Poole. On October 15, 1939, she married V. Orley Nelson. Prior to World War II, she worked in the ship yards in Portland, Oregon. During the war, she was a hairdresser in San Diego, California, while Orley served in the Navy. Following the war, the couple returned to Brookings, where they constructed a home in 1948. Orley died April 23, 1982. Stella was a member of the V.F.W. Post 2118 Auxiliary, and the Brookings Hospital and Brookview Manor Auxiliary. She was an active member of First Lutheran Church for over 50 years, involved in the altar guild, mission interest, Bible School, and Lenten suppers. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, raising flowers, watching the birds, supporting the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, and being with her many friends and family. Survivors include her daughter, Sue (Marlyn) Erickson, of Rapid City, South Dakota; two grandsons: Troy (Debbie) and Brett Erickson; two great-granddaughters: MacKenzie and Tessa Erickson; a brother, George (Arlene) Madsen, of White, South Dakota; sister-in-law, Ruth Madsen, of White; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; step-mother, Anna Madsen; husband; two brothers: Clarence and Maurice; and a sister, Esther Culver.