FIND AN OBITUARY
Service information is posted on our website only with approval from the family.
If you are seeking information not listed below, please contact us.
Lyman Nelson
07/15/1922 — 12/27/2004
From West, Richland, WA, US | Born in Oak, Nebraska
Lyman Nelson
OBITUARY FOR LYMAN NELSON 1922-2004
Lyman Nelson was born to Harold and Florence Nelson on July 15, 1922 in Oak, Nebraska. Lyman was the oldest of three brothers and is survived by Wendell Nelson of Kennewick and Charles Nelson of Yakima. His oldest great-grandson, Michael Canoy was with him when he passed away in the early morning of December 27, 2004.
Lymans family lived in various places in Nebraska and moved to Richland Washington in 1937. Lyman graduated in 1940 from Richland High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Martha Weidle in 1942. They were married for 62 years. He joined the Navy and served on the USS Bataan and the USS Shangri-La during WWII. He was honorably discharged from the Navy.
Lyman worked for and retired from the Richland Fire department after approximately 28 years of service. After retirement Lyman worked for the West Richland volunteer Fire department district-4 as Chief for another 11 years. He raised cattle and hay on the family farm and was a 4-H Leader for over 17-years and was a member of the Benton-Franklin Fair Fat Stock Sale Committee for a number of years.
Lyman enjoyed deer and bird hunting in his early years. Additionally the family spent many summers fishing in Neah Bay for salmon. After retirement, Lyman and Martha traveled extensively throughout the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Canada in their motor home. He was involved in stock car racing at Tri-Cities Raceway and Yakima Speedway with his son Jim, later with his nephew Doug, and jet sprint boat racing with his grandson, Tom Nelson and family.
Lyman was preceded in death by his daughter Dorthy Canoy, beside his wife Martha he is survived by his sons; Charles Nelson of Camano Island, Jim Nelson, West Richland; grandchildren Richard Nelson, Lori Nelson-Chin, Tom Nelson, Patty Wysocki, Marie York, Troy Canoy, Jenny Ferguson, Todd Canoy, Chad Canoy and 13 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Good News Media, Richland Lutheran Church in memory of Lyman Nelson or to the Northwest Kidney Foundation Center, P.O. Box 3035, Seattle, WA 98114-9906 in memory of his daughter, Dorthy Canoy.
Viewing will be held on Tuesday, December 28th and Wednesday, December 29th from 5-8 pm at Einans Funeral Home in Richland. A graveside service will be held at Resthaven Cemetery on Thursday, December 30, 2004 at 11:00 am with a memorial service to follow at Richland Lutheran Church at 11:30 am.
It was a blessing and honor to share the last four months as one of Lyman’s care givers. Each day I was in Lyman and Martha’s home I felt I was the one being cared for.
I learned so much from both Lyman and Martha. I learned from Lyman that love between a husband and wife of 62 years can still be romantic. I noticed a single rose in a vase one morning. Lyman thought it was the last rose of the season. He picked it for Martha. Martha would bring her slippers into the dining room in the morning and Lyman would bend down to place them delicately on her feet. It reminded me of the Prince in the Cinderella Story. Lyman placed the glass slipper on his true love’s feet. When Martha needed help getting out of her chair at the kitchen table Lyman would reach for her arm and in the process of pulling her up his chair would go rolling. It’s one of many precious memories.
Once I asked him what he wanted to do and he said “Ask Martha.” He was her hero. She was his princess. Several years ago I left the water going all night and half the morning of the next day. I felt so bad thinking I might have flooded their barn. It looked like a flood in the corral. I was certain I’d done damage. I called their home. Lyman answered. I apologized. He said something to the affect that it wasn’t a big deal and no harm done. I cherish the memories of meeting at the fence that separated our gardens. His corn was the best! One morning he called me to look at the birds in their apple tree. He had a soft spot for squirrels and the little black kitty. Once I noticed a bowl of milk on the counter in the morning when I got to work. It was to coax the kitty out from under Mike’s bed. I don’t know if Lyman let her in or not. I imagine him trying to pick her up and love her. He was ticklish. When Dr.Ramesh examined him under his arms he laughed. He had a sweet smile. The night he passed away many of his family members had stopped by to visit him. The TV was on. His great grandson Mike read to him from a western he was finishing up. It was endearing. Lyman said it was a real “party.” He was where he wanted to be; in his home with his family. In the morning hours of December 27 he went to his eternal home to see Jesus.
To the Nelson family, my condolences. It is I who came by last summer to pick apricots, at the invitation of Sue, his daughter-in-law, and that was when I met Lyman in person. Those were fine apricots, which we made into apricot butter. Now the Lord has called Lyman upstairs, perhaps to the big firehouse in the sky, where he might meet my own father, who was also a volunteer firefighter. May God bless you all and may all your good deeds be remembered for a long time.
Lyman Nelson was my grandfather and most of us grandkids knew him as G-pa Nelson and the best memories of when i was little was being at there house going out to see the horses and help grandma pick veggies from the garden so we could have them ready for lunch. My grandmas cooking was the best and no one will ever be able to beat her famous cream corn mmmmmm it is good and my grandfather will be greatly missed and we know hes up there watching over us and every night i go out side and look at the stars and have a moment of silence to think about him!
“For such a time as this”
The kind demeanor and the geantleness of thought and attitude are the memories that remain of Chief Nelson. As I was a young firefighter he would calm the “rush” that would come from stepping into this new and exciting danger. I remember being handed my badge as we stood outside the fire station in my new blue uniform shirt and him telling me that the uniform wasn’t complete without the emblem. No longer a firefighter my emblem remains on my desk as a reminder of that teaching as I continue to assisst people in troubled times.
Down the lane neighbor – we joked about the sand dunes in the neighborhood, the bicycle shop across the road, the duck hunters in the back yard, and the wonderful scool bus driver that cared for my little ones. Always a smile and a gentle wave.
We impact the peoples of our lives, and Lyman impacted mine. Thanks Chief, we are doing well. We are blessed because you were here – “For such a time as this”…
It was a blessing and honor to share the last four months as one of Lyman’s care givers. Each day I was in Lyman and Martha’s home I felt I was the one being cared for.
I learned so much from both Lyman and Martha. I learned from Lyman that love between a husband and wife of 62 years can still be romantic. I noticed a single rose in a vase one morning. Lyman thought it was the last rose of the season. He picked it for Martha. Martha would bring her slippers into the dining room in the morning and Lyman would bend down to place them delicately on her feet. It reminded me of the Prince in the Cinderella Story. Lyman placed the glass slipper on his true love’s feet. When Martha needed help getting out of her chair at the kitchen table Lyman would reach for her arm and in the process of pulling her up his chair would go rolling. It’s one of many precious memories.
Once I asked him what he wanted to do and he said “Ask Martha.” He was her hero. She was his princess. Several years ago I left the water going all night and half the morning of the next day. I felt so bad thinking I might have flooded their barn. It looked like a flood in the corral. I was certain I’d done damage. I called their home. Lyman answered. I apologized. He said something to the affect that it wasn’t a big deal and no harm done. I cherish the memories of meeting at the fence that separated our gardens. His corn was the best! One morning he called me to look at the birds in their apple tree. He had a soft spot for squirrels and the little black kitty. Once I noticed a bowl of milk on the counter in the morning when I got to work. It was to coax the kitty out from under Mike’s bed. I don’t know if Lyman let her in or not. I imagine him trying to pick her up and love her. He was ticklish. When Dr.Ramesh examined him under his arms he laughed. He had a sweet smile. The night he passed away many of his family members had stopped by to visit him. The TV was on. His great grandson Mike read to him from a western he was finishing up. It was endearing. Lyman said it was a real “party.” He was where he wanted to be; in his home with his family. In the morning hours of December 27 he went to his eternal home to see Jesus.
To the Nelson family, my condolences. It is I who came by last summer to pick apricots, at the invitation of Sue, his daughter-in-law, and that was when I met Lyman in person. Those were fine apricots, which we made into apricot butter. Now the Lord has called Lyman upstairs, perhaps to the big firehouse in the sky, where he might meet my own father, who was also a volunteer firefighter. May God bless you all and may all your good deeds be remembered for a long time.
Lyman Nelson was my grandfather and most of us grandkids knew him as G-pa Nelson and the best memories of when i was little was being at there house going out to see the horses and help grandma pick veggies from the garden so we could have them ready for lunch. My grandmas cooking was the best and no one will ever be able to beat her famous cream corn mmmmmm it is good and my grandfather will be greatly missed and we know hes up there watching over us and every night i go out side and look at the stars and have a moment of silence to think about him!
“For such a time as this”
The kind demeanor and the geantleness of thought and attitude are the memories that remain of Chief Nelson. As I was a young firefighter he would calm the “rush” that would come from stepping into this new and exciting danger. I remember being handed my badge as we stood outside the fire station in my new blue uniform shirt and him telling me that the uniform wasn’t complete without the emblem. No longer a firefighter my emblem remains on my desk as a reminder of that teaching as I continue to assisst people in troubled times.
Down the lane neighbor – we joked about the sand dunes in the neighborhood, the bicycle shop across the road, the duck hunters in the back yard, and the wonderful scool bus driver that cared for my little ones. Always a smile and a gentle wave.
We impact the peoples of our lives, and Lyman impacted mine. Thanks Chief, we are doing well. We are blessed because you were here – “For such a time as this”…
By chance and marriage, we came to know Lyman and are forever enriched by his humor, zest for life, and love for his family.
I am sorry to learn about your loss. I hope all will be comforted by the hope found at John 5:28,29, Acts 24:15, & Rev. 21:3,4 during this most painful time.
Sincerely yours,
Elaine Jones
Guestbook for
Lyman Nelson