Paul James Nelson

Butte – Paul J. Nelson, age 84, oldest of 15 children, passed away on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at St. James Healthcare in Butte, Montana. He died suddenly from respiratory complications after surgery.
He was born on June 12, 1928 at Cadott, Wisconsin the son of Hiram and Barbara Nelson. He joined the Marines in 1946 during WWII. He married Margaret Drace in 1951 and they had three children, Victoria, Brady and Michael. They moved to Olney, Montana in 1956. Margaret died in 1970. Later, he married Joy Cockrum and they moved to Potomac in the 1970's. She passed away in 1988. He later married Beverly Fock and they moved to Butte in 2002. She passed away in 2009.
Paul worked most of his working life in the lumber industry and retired in the 1990's. He was an avid member of the NRA, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, cooking, playing guitar and writing songs and he also enjoyed prospecting for gold.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Kenneth and sister Odelia and his daughter Victoria and his three wives. He is survived by his son Brady Nelson and wife Cindy; son Michael; grandchildren, Lewis, Luke, Brady, Jr., Michael and James; six great –grandchildren, brothers, Gerald, Aloysious, Allen, John, Vincent, Dennis and Dan; his sisters, Mary, Judy, Julianna, Patsy, Barbara and a vast extended family.
Memorial services will be on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. at Garden City Funeral Home with visitation on Friday, from 9:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. at Garden City Funeral Home. Military honors will be conducted at Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery following services. There will be a potluck reception following services at Jokers Wild, 4829 N. Reserve in Missoula.
Garden City Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.


Read Paul Nelson's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.