Crystal Nelson

Crystal Nelson, 74, of Milbank, SD, passed away on Monday, January 22, 2024, at Avantara in Milbank. 

Memorial services for Crystal will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Living Word Lutheran Church in Milbank. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Pastor Melanie Reiners will officiate the service. Inurnment will be at Evergreen Cemetery near Stockholm, SD. 

Crystal Jean Brandsrud, “Chris”, was born on April 6, 1949, to Max and Murna (Patterson) Brandsrud in Watertown, SD. She grew up in Watertown and graduated from Watertown high school in 1967. After her education she worked at St. Anne’s in Watertown until 1971.

Chris was united in marriage with Harlowe Nelson on January 23, 1971 at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown. Following their marriage, Chris moved to the farm with Harlowe. The couple enjoyed going to Strandburg daily for dinner. Chris graduated from Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown in 1981. She worked at St. Williams Home in Milbank from 1981 to 1989 and the Milbank Hospital until 2005 when she retired to take care of Harlowe. She was a member of Living Word Lutheran Church in Milbank. Outside of work, Chris enjoyed crocheting afghans, which she would later donate to local nursing homes. She also loved reading gothic novels and devotions, camping in Duluth, MN with her friends.

Cherishing her memory are her two sisters: Patricia Anderson of Silver Lake, KS; and Jackie (Bill) Rieffenberger of Watertown, SD; sister-in-law, Denise Nelson; brother-in-law, Lane Nelson; 15 very special nieces and nephews. Chris is preceded in death by her parents: Max and Murna; her husband, Harlowe; one brother, James Brandsrud; and in-laws: Simon and Ruby Nelson, brother-in-law, Clifford Nelson, sister-in-law, Teresa Nelson.