William Nilson

William Victor Nilson the son of Victor and Elin Christine (Johnson) Nilson was born August 27, 1936 on the family farm south east of Graceville, MN. Bill was baptized September 10, 1936 and confirmed May 28, 1950 at Elim Lutheran Church, Clinton.

He attended grade school at District #58 in 1942-1950 in Moonshine Township and 2 years at Graceville Public High school.

He farmed with his Dad on the family farm 3 miles south and 3 1/2 miles east of Graceville, MN in Moonshine Township.

Bill was united in marriage to Verna Bannister October 29, 1955. They were married 51 years and had 7 children, Elden, Audrey, Timmy, Vernon, Bradley, Valerie, and Victor.

They left the farm and moved to Chokio and he was a milk truck driver for the Chokio Creamery.

When Bill’s parents retired from farming in 1959 he returned to farming until the early 70’s. He moved to Clinton where they managed the Park Inn Cafe until 1972. Later that year they moved to the Phil Hagan farm in Moonshine Township. Bill was employed by Ames, Conroy, Cummerford, Rily, Ronglien, and Vold Construction Companies as a bulldozer operator. He worked all over the Midwest area bulldozing excavating, and contouring the land for roads, bridges, and construction sites. He had a very keen reputation for being able to visualize the finished project from start to finish. He was an expert at using dynamite to eliminate obstructions for any job where needed. He was known by various companies as one of the finest, most precise, bulldozer operators in the industry. His bulldozing days lasted until his retirement in 2005.

Bill’s hobbies included carving stocks for his gun collection and hunting. He loved to hunt ducks, pheasant, deer and also enjoyed fishing anytime

.He is preceded in death by his parents; wife Verna; son Timmy; two sisters, Sonja Watkins and LoRene Drewelow; two brothers, Carl and David Nilson; brothers-in-law Frank Watkins, Ion Cota, and Ronald Tate

He is survived by his sons, Elden (Phyllis) of Clinton, Vernon of Fergus Falls, Brad of Graceville, Vic (Darcy) of Graceville; two daughters, Audrey (Dale) Gary of Graceville, and Val (Randy Murray) Carlson of Wheaton; 18 grandchildren, Bryce, Dalton, Casey, Austin, Matt, Cody, and Patrick Nilson; Steve (Katie) Gary, Brandon, Seth, and Amber Gary; Zach and Chelsie Leuthardt; Ashley Carlson; Kim and Jim Morrissette; Kerry Sabolik; Steve Morrissette; 16 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Dolores (Richard) Mauch, Francis Cota Schulz, Alice (Richard) Stielow, Betty Tate, One brother John (Ruth), two brothers-in-law, James Drewelow and John Schulz; numerous other family members and friends