Vera Nelson, age 89, formerly of Sinai and Brookings, died Saturday, September 22, 2007, at the Ogden Manor in Ogden, Iowa. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, September 27, 2007, at Sinai Lutheran Church, with interment in the West Sinai Lutheran Cemetery. Visitations will be from 5-8 P.M. Wednesday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Vera Iona (Hanson) Nelson was born September 21, 1918, at Irene, South Dakota, to Emil and Wilhelmina (Peterson) Hanson. She attended country school near Beresford, and graduated from Centerville High School. She received a teaching certificate from General Beadle College in Madison and taught country school. She took summer classes at Spearfish, Mankato, and St. Cloud, Minnesota. She taught school at St. Louis Park, Minnesota, prior to her marriage to Norman Nelson on April 10, 1954, at St. Louis Park. The Nelsons lived and farmed near Sinai, and moved to Brookings in 1993. Norman died February 7, 1993. Vera moved to Ogden, Iowa, in April 2007 to be near her daughter, Judy. Vera was a member of Sinai Lutheran Church and was active in Circle. She taught Sunday School for many years. She was a member of the Friendship Garden Club and served as president of the Sioux Valley High School Band Parents. She was a Den Leader for the Cub Scouts. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, raising flowers, gardening, reading, letter writing, and doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Survivors include her three children: Wayne (Renee) Nelson of Brookings, Judy (Brad) Svennes of Ogden, Iowa, and Darlene (Jeff) Moxon of Boulder Creek, California; five grandchildren: Ryan, Bethany, and Meghan Nelson, and Courtney and Laci Svennes; a sister-in-law, Dora Hanson, of Santa Barbara, California; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and seven brothers and sisters: Herman, Clifford, Vera, Arthur, Florence, Freida, and Clarence Bob.