Obituary of Esther Nelson

Esther Nelson passed away peacefully on Thursday evening, July 3, at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Woodland Hills. She would have been 85 years old in August. She began her earthly journey on August 14, 1929 in Bottineau, North Dakota as Esther Louise Pihl. She was the first child born to John and Anna Pihl. The family farm was located near Souris, Bottineau County, North Dakota. She attended the first four years of school at Mountain View District #12, a country school in North Dakota and finished her schooling in Springdale, Washington where the family moved in 1939. Esther married Dick Nelson in June of 1946 and they lived on a dairy farm near Springdale. Soon they moved to Deer Park, Washington and the next year daughter Karen was born. A son, Rick Nelson, was born three years later. In 1952 the family relocated to Glendale, California, and a third child, Michael Nelson was born. In 1955 the family purchased a home in West Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley where they remained for 10 years. Esther relished her role as homemaker and loved to cook, garden, sew and participate in her children’s activities. When Dick built a swimming pool at the Van Nuys home, a favorite pastime was having friends and family over for pool parties and lots of good food. In 1964 the family moved to a larger home in Simi Valley. Eventually the kids went to college, started working and got married. Grandchildren Heather, Tomma and Michael Jason arrived. Esther was still cooking for family gatherings and golfing-get-togethers with friends. And then in mid-life she took on a new challenge—she went to work. She started working at International Engine Parts in Chatsworth. She liked the family, small-business atmosphere and the friendly people who worked there. Her talent was in Sales and she enjoyed talking to people from all over the country. She worked there until she was in her early seventies. Esther is preceded in death by Dick, her husband of fifty years, her sister Norita Yvonne, and her daughter-in-law Pat. She is survived by her daughter Karen Pierce (Tom) of Port Hueneme, sons Rick Nelson and Mike Nelson (Cindy) of Simi Valley; three grandchildren, Heather Herrera, Tomma Grzasko and Michael Jason Nelson; one great-grandchild, Paul Herrera; sisters Arvis Franks (Bus) of Everett, WA, Erma Oestreich (Pete) of Ritzville, WA, brother Gordon Phil (Mary) of Billings, MT and Darrel Dirstine of Spokane, WA and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation and service will be held on Friday, July 11, 2014 at the Rose Family Funeral Home (4444 Cochran Street, Simi Valley, CA 93063) at 10 am and 11 am. A graveside service is to follow at El Rancho Simi Pioneer Cemetery. Pat McCoy of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley will be presiding over the services. Friends and family will gather at Esther’s house following the services to celebrate her life. Miss me, but Let Me Go When I come to the end of the road And the sun has set for me, I want no rites in a gloom filled room Why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little, but not for long, And not with your heart bowed low. Remember the love that we once shared, Miss me, but let me go. For this is a journey we all must take, And each must go alone, It’s all part of the Master’s plan, A step on the road to home. When you are lonely and sick of heart, Go to the friends we know, And bury your sorrow, in doing good deeds, Miss me, but let me go.