Agnes K. Nelson died Aug. 7, 2002, in Oak Harbor. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 10 at 10 a.m., at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church with Pastor Laurie A. Bleakley officiating. Inurnment will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. at Maple Leaf Cemetery.

Agnes Kathinka Nelson was born Aug. 16, 1908, in Bellingham, Minn., to Thomas Gaarboe Christensen and Jennie Jenson Hjorth. She was baptized in 1908 and confirmed in 1928. In 1916, the family moved to Washburn, N.D., but returned to the family farm in 1917.

In September 1926, 18-year-old Agnes left Minnesota with an aunt, uncle and cousin and moved to Oak Harbor. For the next two years, she did housework for various families in the Oak Harbor area.

On March 28, 1928, she married John O. Nelson at Stanwood Lutheran parsonage. They left immediately on the Alaska Steamship for Cordova, Alaska, where Agnes worked as a cook at the hospital. In 1930, Agnes and John returned to Oak Harbor and then drove to Minnesota, where they spent seven years farming.

Agnes and John returned to Oak Harbor in 1937 and purchased a farm four miles west of Oak Harbor. They farmed together for years, milking cows, raising replacement heifers, grew and sold strawberries and at one time had 1,000 chickens and sold eggs to the local co-op. They raised turkeys, angora rabbits and grew carrots, raspberries, cabbage seeds, potatoes, mangles and alfalfa.

Agnes worked as a waitress for Jimmies Cafe for a short time and then began a 20-year career clerking for Maylor’s Coast-to-Coast store.

Agnes was a founding member of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. The initial meeting and vote to start a Lutheran Church in Oak Harbor was held at the Nelson home in Oak Harbor on Aug. 14, 1938. Agnes played the piano for Oak Harbor Lutheran Church in the early years. She taught Sunday school for 23 years. She belonged to church circles and served in all offices of the Ladies Aide. She belonged to the Prayer Group and for many years worked on quilts for Lutheran World Relief. She was a child of God and was a witness of that faith to family, friends and the community.

Mrs. Nelson is survived by two daughters, Duveen Haist of North Platte, Neb. and Deatrice Taylor of Anacortes; four grandchildren, Treve Haist (Jill) of Edmonds, Tracy Miller (Greg) of Hershey, Neb., Tova Boyer (John) of Deltona, Fla. and Thad Taylor of Oak Harbor; and nine great-grandchildren: Tyler, Taner and Terin Haist; Shaylyn, Daynlee and Treyann Miller; Patrick and Heather Boyer and Cheri Taylor.

Her parents, sister and her husband John preceded her in death.

Memorials may be made to Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel. This obituary may be seen on-line at http://burley.plan4ever.com