June 26, 1941 - November 27, 2024

Gloria Jean (Erickson) Nelson of rural Marquette died November 27, 2024, of heart failure in Aurora. Services were held at 2pm, Monday, December 2, 2024, at Mamre Evangelical Free Church in rural Marquette with Pastor John McKinney officiating. Burial was in the Mamre Cemetery. Visitation was Sunday, December 1, 2024 from 5pm – 7pm at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home.

Gloria was born at University Hospital in Omaha on June 26, 1941, to Adrain and Inez (Fullington) Erickson. The family lived on an acreage near Archer, moving to a farm in the Fairview community and then finally moving to an acreage northwest of Central City in the mid-1950’s. She attended rural District #18 Burke school through 8th grade. Gloria was very close to her beloved aunts, uncles and cousins and spent much time with them in her younger years. Gloria graduated from Central City high school in 1959. Following graduation, she worked in Central City for Northwestern Bell as a telephone operator.

On June 17, 1961, Gloria was united in marriage to Clayton Nelson at Mamre Ev. Free Church near Marquette. The couple were blessed with three daughters and a son. Gloria felt privileged to be a stay-athome mom. She helped her husband on the farm and with their dairy and later with other various business adventures. After the children were grown, the couple traveled often in connection with their Arabian horse and their ostrich businesses. They were a close couple and enjoyed their togetherness.

Gloria’s life was her family and she looked forward to having the family gather each week on Sunday for supper and lively conversation. Holidays were special and were always celebrated with a large family get-together. Gloria loved country music. She and Clayton spent a week each June since 1986 in Branson, Missouri. Special memories were made when the entire family celebrated Gloria and Clayton’s anniversary with them in Branson seven times over the years. Gloria and Clayton had travelled to all of the states including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as Mexico and Central America.

Gloria attended Mamre Ev. Free Church since 1961 and accepted Jesus Christ as her savior in 1974. She participated in their choir and belonged to the Women’s Missionary Society (WMS). She was Cheer Person for WMS for many years, buying gifts and sending cards to those who were ill. Not only did she provide cheer for the WMS and church, Gloria was a prolific letter writer and encourager to many in the extended family and community.

Survivors of the immediate family, besides her beloved husband Clayton, include their daughters Michelle (Dudley) Gulbrandson of Central City, Melissa (Corbin) Erickson of Las Vegas, NM, Marni (Jim) Danhauer of Marquette and son Ryan (Maria) Nelson of Central City, nine grandchildren; Cody (Amanda) Gulbrandson, Brianna (Aaron) Johnson, Krissa Gulbrandson, Arianne (Mac) Killinger, Olivia Prentice, Spencer Prentice, Noa Snyder, Zoe Snyder, and Charlie Nelson; ten great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Karen (Charles) Stroman of Lincoln, nieces Rachael Erickson and Alyshia Stroman, and nephews Jeff Erickson and Aaron (Julie) Erickson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her twin brother, Ronald Dean Erickson, sister-in-law, Judy Erickson, a still-born brother Donald Eugene Erickson, her mother-in-law and father-in-law Nannie and Harry Nelson, grandparents Charles and Channa Erickson and Joseph and Hattie Fullington (who lived with Gloria’s parents as Gloria grew up).