Edythe Mathilda Hokanson Nelson, 89, died suddenly at home in Richland on September 12, 2009.

Edythe was born April 27, 1920, the oldest child of Fred and Hulda Hokanson. She was raised in Ogema, Wisconsin, and graduated from Westboro High School in 1937. She married Marlowe "Skip" Nelson in 1942. They spent the Second World War on the West Coast where Skip served in the U.S. Navy. They returned to the Midwest after the war and established a home in Minneapolis. Skip's work as a mining engineer eventually led them to homes in several different states including Michigan, Colorado, Utah, and New York. They moved to Richland from Wallace, Idaho, following Skip's retirement in 1983.

Edythe was an accomplished homemaker, cook, seamstress, and gardener, as well as an avid reader. Everywhere the family settled, she established a warm and comfortable home for her husband and four daughters. She was always proud of her daughters, their children, and her great-grandchildren. She made life-long friends wherever she lived, enjoyed the congeniality of the various women's groups in the Lutheran churches to which she belonged, and devoted thousands of hours to the Kadlec auxiliary when she settled in the Tri-Cities.

Edythe is survived by her four daughters, Susan Dennis Kreid of Richland; Karen Eastman of Phelan, California; Gail Kenneth Foos of Murrieta, California; and Sally Nelson of Corrales, New Mexico; her grandchildren Betsy Kreid, Jenny Kreid, Julie Eastman Stidham, Scott Eastman, Jody Eastman McCain, Eric Foos, step-grandchild Brigitte Foos Holmdahl, and ten delightful great- and step-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her brother, Philip Hokanson, and her sister, Barbara Hokanson LaMere.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marlowe A. Nelson; her parents, Fred Hokanson and Hulda Larson Hokanson; her sister, Genevieve Hokanson Luedke; and son-in-law James Eastman.

Viewing will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Einan's Funeral Home, 915 Bypass Highway, Richland.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2009, at Richland Lutheran Church, 901 Van Giesen, Richland. A reception will follow in the Prince of Peace room following the service. Inurnment will be at Fort Snelling National Veteran's Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Memorial contributions may be made to Good News Media Ministry, c/o Richland Lutheran Church, 901 Van Giesen, Richland WA 99354; Luther Senior Retirement Center, 625 Berkshire Place, Richland, WA 99354; the Kadlec Foundation, 888 Swift Boulevard, Richland, WA 99352; or a charity of your choice.