Nels Lindseth

Nels Lindseth, age 91, of Thief River Falls, MN and formerly of Erskine, MN, passed away on Thursday, December 14^th, at McIntosh Senior Living in McIntosh, MN. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 19^th, at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine with the Rev. Timothy Lundeen officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, rural Erskine. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church. Military honors will be provided by the Air Force Honors Team. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Erskine and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.  

Nels Rudolph Lindseth was born on June 4, 1932, in Erskine to parents Einar and Ida (Olson) Lindseth.  He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church.  He attended country school through 8^th grade, then onto Erskine High School.

Nels worked on farms and ranches in Minnesota and North Dakota with his brother, Eivind.  In addition, he worked at American Crystal Sugar in Crookston and Moorhead until he enlisted in the Air Force in 1952, where he earned his GED.  He lived in England, Scotland, Greece, Panama and Thailand.  While in England and Scotland, he was in Air Rescue Service with SB-29 aircraft covering one of the largest sea rescue areas in the world.  While in Thailand with RC-121 Radar Picket Aircraft calling air strikes to fighter aircraft over the Ho Chi Min Trail.  Going to Panama, he attended Spanish language school in California.  While in Panama, he flew all the countries in South America for 3 ½ years supporting all the mission and atttache with mail supplies and personnel.  During his time in the Air Force, he traveled to more than 50 countries logging thousands of hours of flight time as a flight engineer in about 10 different types of aircraft.  He retired in 1975 as a flight engineer superintendent.

Following retirement from the Air Force, Nels farmed around the Erskine and Brooks area for 23 years retiring in 1998 after which time he helped the operator of his farms during the summer months and went to warmer places during the winter.  After working with the farm operators for 10 years, he retired again in 2008 and helped out his loving wife with garden and yard work.

In April of 1956, Nels was married to Betty Carlson in Sacramento, California.  While Nels was stationed in Athens, Greece, they were blessed with the adoption of David in December 1961.

Nels and Jane Widseth were married on February 20, 1982.  To that union they were blessed with the birth of a son, Michael in September 1983.

On February 14, 1997, Nels was married to Ellen Jorde in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.  Nels and Ellen resided in Erskine until 2018, until they relocated to Thief River Falls in the fall of 2018.  They spent many winters traveling in the motorhome to the warm sunny area of Parker, AZ.

Nels was a member of the VFW 6891 and American Legion, Erskine, MN.  Nels served as Township Supervisor and Farm Service Agency Chairman.  Nels’ hobbies and interests included traveling, fishing, and water sports but his greatest hobby and joy was spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Nels is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Ellen, of Thief River Falls; sons David (Becky) Lindseth of Erskine, MN; and Michael (Angela) Lindseth of Fosston, MN; stepsons Todd Bottem of Thief River Falls, MN, and Chad (Julie) Bottem of Thief River Falls, MN; grandchildren Mandi (Brian Allen) Lindseth; Casey (Cory) Sandberg; Cole (Katie Onofreychuk) Holthusen; Derek (Amber Johnson) Holthusen; Charley Lindseth; Olivia Lindseth; Steven Widman; Christian Widman; Amanda Bottem; Natasha (Joe) Kinzer; Katie Bottem; Jenny (Chad) Stromlund; Tricia (Jake) Larson; McKeon Post; Matt Post; 17 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law Mary Lindseth and friend Calvin Kolstad of Erskine. 

Nels was preceded in death by his parents, wife Betty, sister Ruth (Melvin) Abrams, brothers Eivind (Marlys)  Lindseth and Walter Lindseth; and sister-in-law Punk (Milt) Sande.