Funeral services for Robert Eiler &8220;Bud&8221; Nelsen will be

at 11 a.m. Friday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle. The Rev. Ronald Myers will officiate. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Glenville. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Bud died on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at Albert Lea Medical Center.

Robert Eiler &8220;Bud&8221; Nelsen was born on April 26, 1924, in Myrtle, the son of Eiler and Myrtle (Smith) Nelsen. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1942 and attended the University of Minnesota for two years. On May 11, 1945, he was united in marriage to Hazel Gladys Bush at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Bud and Hazel farmed in various areas in Minnesota and Iowa until 1961 when they moved to Albert Lea. Bud then worked fulltime as a locksmith at The Glass Shop, which later became Smitty&8217;s Glass, in Albert Lea. To supplement the family income, he often &8220;moonlighted&8221; at various jobs around town including milking cows for farmer friends when they took vacations. Hazel preceded him in death in 2002. On Feb. 24, 2004, Bud married Bernadine Lindell. She also preceded him in death in 2007.

Bud was an active member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church where he sang in the men&8217;s chorus for many years, served as a deacon, and worked with Hazel as the custodian. He was also an active member of the Albert Lea Senior Citizens. He enjoyed spending time with family, travelling, and playing cards. Bud loved horses and never missed the Britt Draft Horse Show every Labor Day.

Survivors include his children Judy (Bill) Raatz, Gene (Linda) Nelsen, Mary Anne (Karl) Rollar, Brian (Denise) Nelsen and Scott Nelsen; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Fern Rockwell and Alice Bush; many nieces and nephews; step daughters Iris (Gary) Goodnature, Irene (Eugene) Anderson and Cori (Mike) Martinson; and step son Scott (Lori) Lindell.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Hazel; his wife, Bernadine; his sister, Marion Ott; and his brother, Howard Nelsen.

Memorials are preferred to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.