Elma Loretta Nelson, 78, passed away March 10, 2006, at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, after several months of illness.

Mrs. Nelson was born Oct. 10, 1927, to Elmond and Nettie Masscey in Bernard, Iowa. She married Bernard (Ben) Nelson June 25, 1947, in Piggott, Mo. They moved to Bothell in the summer of 1957. Elma worked for Physio Control in Kirkland for 20 years. When she retired they moved to Oakville until Ben’s passing in 1998. Elma moved to Oak Harbor in April 2004.

She is preceded in death by her husband Bernard (Ben) Nelson; son Mitchell Dean, sisters Vivian Potter and Helen Smith. Elma is survived by three daughters, Brenda Maxwell and Lorae Dutcher and husband Alan, all of Coupeville, and Vicky Henderson of Lyman; one son, Bruce Nelson and wife Darlene of Libby, Mont.; grandchildren Rodney and Stefanie Maxwell of Mill Creek, Jason and Patricia Maxwell of Snohomish, Tracy and Brian Linson of Coupeville, Kimberly and Joe Ugolini, Robin Hoskins, Katie and Scott Bodeau, all of Spokane, Garrett Dutcher of Coupeville and Trevor Caldwell of Montana; great-grandchildren, Kail, Zoey and Kaleb Linson of Coupeville, Nathan and Sydney Maxwell of Mill Creek, Jerica and Isabella Ugolini of Spokane, Noah and Aidan Bodeau of Spokane; one sister, Mary Morris of Independence, Iowa; and one brother, Carl Massey of Iowa.

Mom spent her last years with her beloved companion, Robert P. Banks of Oak Harbor. They enjoyed family, friends, dancing, nature and traveling. They traveled the summer of 2005, visiting their families in Iowa, Illinois, Georgia and Virginia. They also spent a week in Hawaii in November 2005.

In keeping with her wishes, a memorial service was held at Burley Funeral Chapel on March 13. Cremation will follow. At her request, her cremated remains will be scattered near Libby, Mont. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.