Larry Calvin Nelson returned his soul to God the evening of September 4, 2023. He was in a Carson Tahoe Hospital bed, suffering severe pneumonia and related difficulties. Family members that were present were pleased that he recognized them.
Larry was born in Fowler, California on February 13, 1941 to Walter Calvin Nelson and Wanda Nickle Nelson. Two sisters, Linda and Gayle, joined him later. The family raised their children in the Fresno/Easton area. Larry graduated in 1958 from Washington Union High School. The next year he married a long-time friend, Arlene Kerby. Although the family separated after two sons were born, Larry and Arlene kept their love for Steven and Walter in the forefront.
Both boys appreciated that consideration. His later wife, Susan Cyr Nelson, felt very fortunate to have inherited charming step-sons who are delightful to this day.
Larry enjoyed life in every stage and was successful in all being a dad, and as a twenty-seven year Fresno County law enforcement officer who had early-on reached the rank of captain. After retiring
from the Sheriff’s Department, he was an admired Los Molinos, California pasture restorer who raised and then sold range bulls through his well-respected DelCapitan Beefmasters. His bulls earned several awards in different Red Bluff Bull Sales. He also contributed his honesty and good sense as a member of the Los Molinos Water Company Board of Directors. He enjoyed car racing (driving, of course) during his time ranching.
After the ranch was sold, he lived consecutively in Red Bluff, CA, Carson City, NV, and Valley Springs, CA.While he lived in Valley Springs, Calaveras County, he researched religions and settled on joining Sutter Creek Church of the Nazarene in nearby Amador County. He was baptized there during a service later in the year.
While living in the three above communities, Larry drove sprint cars weekly during the season. An extremely hurtful accident during his mid-sixties and subsequent worries expressed by loved ones, finally convinced him to stop racing (although he still owned a fishing boat
for use on local lakes).
He moved back to Nevada to Carson Valley (Johnson Lane) where he found peace in his backyard. He had unbroken views of the Carson Range West of him. He also found Crossroads Nazarene Church outside of Gardnerville and transferred his membership from the Sutter Creek Church. He especially enjoyed Sunday morning Bible Study there. Two of his regular golfing buddies also attended.
Four different motor homes over the years carried Larry and Susan through the countryside. He never tired of driving and exploring, especially when he’d found a good gold panning site. Grandchildren, however, became his overall life’s love. There are thirteen surviving
“grandchildren” who have given him a multitude of great-grandchildren. He loved them all. Because his son Steve moved his family to nearby Reno several years ago, Larry was able to spend much quality time with his two youngest grandsons, now young men, Erik Larry
Nelson and Koby Demetrius Nelson. God is good.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Walt and Wanda, his brother-in-law John Rayman and sister Linda Rayman, as well as by a six-year-old grandson, Steven Ryan Nelson.
He is survived by his wife Susan, son Steven Allan Nelson (Siri) and younger son, Walter Augustus Nelson (Logan Parr), and their mother Arlene Heitcotter, “Baby Sister” Gayle Senter (Gary), her daughters Jennifer Fong (Chris), Christy Benggon (Larry), and their children, his nephew Scott Nelson (Jenny), his children, and a Fresno cousin, Betty Wilhite. In-laws who love him are Jane Forseth (Tom Marquez), Mary Anderson (Wayne), Joel Cyr (Yvonne) and their respective families.
At his request, Larry was cremated through FitzHenry’s Funeral Home in Minden, NV. Since grandson Steven’s death twenty years ago, Larry has wanted to be buried close to Steven. Thanks to Steven’s mother, Debra Hockett, Larry will be in a plot next to Steven at Sunset View Cemetery in Jackson, California.
A small family group may attend the burial at an as-of-yet undetermined date.
We, Larry’s family, are sincerely grateful to the medical community of Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, local doctors, and of course a huge thank you to members of Crossroads Church, who never stopped praying.