Loranell Nelson

Loranell was born in the depression era (1928)– in western Kansas (Ruleton) and lived in a sod house along the Kansas/Colorado border in a town named Kanorado, during the dust bowl days. Her parents Juanita McClung and Archie Anderson were farmers and it was a tough and meager life, but she wasn’t afraid of work. She cared for her younger brothers, raised chickens, cooked and cleaned for her family and even moved out of the house at age 13, working for her room and board in order to continue her High School education in Goodland, Kansas. She was an active 4-H club member for 11 years and received the Kansas State 4-H Alumni Award in 1950. She was interested in flying and passed her own solo flight. Loranell went on to attend college at Fort Hays State University and she used her education to come back to rural Goodland, where she was an elementary teacher at Sandy Hill – a one room school house where she carried the water, stoked the fire, and did all the teaching for first through eighth grade students. Later she taught at Ruleton Grade School. Loranell was a strong independent woman, going to college at a time when few women did. It was south of Ruleton that she met her soon-to-be husband, Albert LaVern Nelson who had come home to see his parents after his service in the Army Air Corps. LaVern and Loranell were married on August 4th, 1948…just shy of 65 years. Her horse Flicka would also move to the Nelson farm. Loranell was teaching school and LaVern started farming. The two were a fantastic team. They planted over 1,200 trees on their homestead, and built barns, corrals, silos and worked the land together. They always had pets, and Loranell had a soft spot in her heart for all animals and always did. The Nelsons have two daughters: Anita Kay and Kristi Ann. Loranell was an amazing homemaker who always kept an impeccable home and could whip up a feast for both family and farm workers in minutes, even though she herself spent the entire morning driving a tractor or moving irrigation pipe. She was as tough as a man, able to drive a truck, tractor and work like a man, but always managed to be a beautiful lady at all times. She was always a CLASS ACT! (Looking fresh and manicured, even though she’d spent the day working in the field.) Loranell truly loved living in the country and was very proud of her and husband LaVern’s accomplishments. They received the “Balanced Farming and Family Living” Award in 1952. The Nelsons were also named “Kansas Farm Family of the Year” at the American Royal in Kansas City (1966) and received the Master Farmer/Master Homemaker recognition in 1979. The Goodland Daily News once recognized Loranell as the “Best Cook in the County” and all her friends and relatives can attest to that. While living in Goodland, Loranell was an active member of the Methodist Church Circle Club, PEO (joining in 1982), 4-H Leader and the Extension Service. She served on the Carnegie Arts Center Board for 9 years, the Sherman County Extension Board for 18 years and a 4-H Club leader for 14 years. She always loved her Beefmaster Breed cow-calf ranch cattle and took pride in checking pastures regularly and watching all the mama cows and heifers safely birth their spring calves. The Nelson’s also had a 1,000 head feed lot. She was a strong and determined rancher and rancher/farmer’s wife. The two managed over 4,000 acres. They raised cattle, wheat and corn primarily. The family says they will never forget the anniversary when LaVern gave his wife a little Love – that was a beautiful custom made Chevy LUV pickup. He had it waiting on the county fair showroom floor to surprise her. And man, could she make that little pickup fly down those remote gravel roads – as the Nelson’s home was 26 miles each way to town. Their two granddaughters Sallie Michelle and Sadie Kay were born in Burlington, Colorado, and lived in Goodland Kansas just across the state line, but moved to Durango CO in 1991 with their Mother, Anita. Kristi had been living in Durango since 1986, so Grandpa and Grandma Nelson were making regular visits to Durango. They soon purchased a Colorado condo, and then later made the move with their farm dog “Rusty” full-time in 1998. After moving to the Blue Sky neighborhood north of Durango, Loranell started working at the Durango Tourism Office. She loved talking with the tourists and promoting all the reasons that she and LaVern had wanted to move here. (Both Kristi and Anita had worked in tourism, so she came by it naturally.) Most of all, she treasured the friendships with co-workers she met there. She was very proud that she continued working until she was 80. Loranell was always a passionate gardener – who loved her flowers and a manicured lawn – even in Kansas, where the wind never stops blowing and blossoms don’t last long on the stem. She had a large vegetable garden and raised her family on organic home-grown cooking. Gardening in Durango was much more rewarding. She was proud to host her PEO Chapter CS meetings each spring, when she had hundreds of daffodils in bloom. She enjoyed gardening until the night before entering the hospital. Loranell died of complications following a severe stroke. She was 85 years young. Loranell is survived by her husband LaVern Nelson, daughters Anita Wigton and Kristi Nelson, son-in-law Dr. Chet Wigton, soon-to-be son-in-law Steve Householder, granddaughter Sallie Kautter – married to Justin Kautter and their two sons Talisker and Cashel - all of Durango, and granddaughter Sadie Short and her fiancé Omar Cuellar of San Francisco, CA, younger brother Gerald Anderson and his wife Shirley from Goodland, KS and the Nelson’s white speckled Chihuahua “Handsome Cowboy.” She is preceded in death by her younger brother Darrell Anderson, Parents Archie and Juanita Anderson, Granddaughter Krystal Zillinger and son-in-law Dr. Larry Cohen. The Nelson family is a close-knit group and Loranell will be deeply missed, but her legacy, her recipes and her many influences and inspirations will live on with her family. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 25, 2013, at Hood Mortuary Chapel at 1261 E. 3rd, Durango, CO. The immediate family will gather for a private burial in the historic Hermosa Cemetery following the service. (Located just two miles from the Nelson’s home.) In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the LaPlata County Humane Society, as Loranell truly loved her pets. www.lpchumanesociety.org 1111 S. Camino Del Rio – Durango, CO 81303