Jerry Rovang Nelson, 82
Jerry Rovang Nelson, 82, of Kalispell, passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 19, 2020, with his family by his side.
Jerry was born on Jan.13, 1938, in Kalispell to Raymond and Fern Nelson, joining his older sister Betty. He was raised in Whitefish, graduating from Whitefish High School in 1956.
Jerry went to trade school and worked for Burlington Northern Railroad. In the late 1960s, when many were laid off from the railroad, he went to Seattle and worked in the shipyards as a welder and for the power company there, then returned to Whitefish and hired back on with BNRR, working for 29 years until he injured his back on the job.
In 1992 Jerry and Sarah bought and ran Pasta-To-Go in the old Gateway West Mall. Jerry built a full-sized commercial kitchen catering and concession trailer that they used to expand the restaurant business. You could find him working alongside his wife, son Burt and mother-in-law at several of the local events in the valley as well as Big Mountain and Lost Prairie Sky Dive, along with catering many wedding events over the years.
His love of old cars started before he had his drivers license. Working at a gas station in high school, he bought his first car, a 1929 Pontiac, which he still owns. Over the years, he bought and restored several antique cars — a 1956 Mercury, 1953 Pontiac and Buick Skylark convertible, just to name a few, along with daily drivers he would restore for his wife. His last project was helping his son Burt with his 1966 Lincoln convertible. He enjoyed going to swap meets and he spent many car trips to them with friends and his son Burt. He loved tinkering on many projects on the farm. Another hobby of his was restoring antique clocks; many still chime the hours each day. He loved all animals, and raised many ducks, geese, dogs and cats. He enjoyed his many friends, morning coffee with buddies over the years was a favorite activity for him.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Sarah, of 35 years; son, Burt Ross Fair-Nelson, in Kalispell; son, Jimmy Nelson, in Spokane; and son, Jeff Nelson, in Kalispell; his granddaughter, Heather Nelson and great-granddaughter Kennedy in Spokane; granddaughter Jessica Beard and great-grandchildren Ayden, Aston and Chloe in Lewistown; his brother-in-law, Bill Baldwin; and many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, -nephews, and many dear friends he made along his journey.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Fern Nelson, sister Betty Baldwin, brother Dallas Nelson, nieces Bonnie McClarty, Sarah Fern Nelson and Dawn, nephews Dallas Raymond Nelson and William “Will” Potter III, brother-in-law William “Tim” Potter II, and mother-in-law Ruby Dorsey, who left us just 10 days before Jerry.
There will be a celebration of life on the family’s favorite summer activity, the annual Fourth of July potluck and barbecue at the family farm in Kalispell. A dear friend of the family's, Bill Burback will speak.