Funeral services for Richard “Penny” D. Nelson of Albert Lea will be at 4 p.m. Sundayat Bridge Community Baptist Church South, 335 W. Clark St. The Rev. Mark Miller will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery in Albert Lea. Military honors will be accorded by the Albert Lea area veterans groups.

He died Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016,  at St John’s Lutheran Community. He was 81.

Penny was born Jan. 11, 1935, in Albert Lea the son of Thursten “Turk” and Jeanette (Ness) Nelson. He was a graduate of Albert Lea High School and as a young man he worked for his father at the Conoco Filling Station on E. Main St. In June 1957 he married his lifelong love, Shirley Schultz, and to that union four children were born. He spent his life in the Albert Lea and Rochester areas.

Penny belonged to and retired from the National Guard of Minnesota he also worked as a civilian for the guard. After his retirement he and Shirley were privileged to do some traveling. He enjoyed old cars, guns and hunting and woodworking.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley, of Albert Lea; children Marjean (Chuck) Legler of Luck, Wisconsin, Kristine Gil of Mazatlán, Mexico, Dean (Cindy) Nelson of Mantorville, Jeanie (Dan) Unger of Dodge Center. There are also nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary Ellen Evans of Albert Lea; and niece and nephews.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.