Shirley Nelson Profile Photo

Shirley Nelson

1938 - 2025

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Shirley A. Nelson at the age of 87 in Chanhassen, MN on September 27, 2025. She was born on March 17, 1938, to Simon and Inga Simonson. She attended the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault, MN from 1943-1958. She lived on campus during the school year starting at the age of 5. She thrived in the Deaf community there, but at the same time, she missed her family and home tremendously. After graduation, she attended Gallaudet University in Washington DC, where she earned a bachelor's degree in library science in 1963. She was a member of Phi Kappa Zeta.
Shirley met and married Kenneth Nelson in East Grand Forks, MN and started a family. They were happily married for 35 years. They both grew up in nearby Oslo, MN so it meant a lot to have extended family nearby. They also had a large group of friends in the Deaf community who became like a second family to them. They moved to Hermantown, MN in 1973 where they found another special Deaf community and made many wonderful memories. Later in life, she began learning about technology which landed her a great job at Minnesota Power for 11 years as a records technician.
Shirley was the ultimate mom and grandma. When the grandkids were each born, she moved in to help and showered them with love. She was kind, loving and hardworking. She had a quiet strength in dealing with challenges.
Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, her brother (Melvin) and her loving husband (Kenneth). She is survived by her children Kevin Nelson (daughter-in-law Emma & grandkids Liam, Elliott, Nia), Darin Nelson, and Monica Hazelwood (son-in-law Mike and granddaughter Avery).
There will be a small service held at Bigwoods Lutheran Church in Oslo, MN this summer where she will be laid to rest next to her husband. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Association of the Deaf (www.nad.org) and Parkinson's Foundation (www.parkinson.org).

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