Mark Lyndon Nelson

October 24, 1952 - May 1, 2026

Born in Wilmar, MN, Mark Lyndon Nelson was the youngest of five children of Leonard Nelson and Jessie Didrikson (Belgum) Nelson. Driven from the start, Mark survived a complete blood transfusion to kick off a life of purpose and force. He was raised by a gentle father who never raised his voice and a fiery mother who knew how to fight for what is right. Mark adopted their well-taught lessons; he had a gentle soul and a competitive spirit. 

Growing up in New London, MN, Mark starred in musicals and plays, participated in choir and band, and was a three-sport athlete in cross country, basketball, and baseball. He was also a Boy Scout just shy of his Eagle Scout honor. He was a determined and self-assured person who was willing to offer good-spirited advice on how to sweep a floor, pack groceries, and shoot a free throw.

Mark went to Concordia College in Moorhead, MN (Class of 1974), where he met the love of his life, Ardis Carol Petersen in their first music theory class. Ardis, an accomplished vocalist and violinist, helped Mark pass the class by explaining the overtone series before their final exam. The legend is that four years later they were engaged on the Cobber Choir Tour in Norway. It may have actually been on tour in Pennsylvania. Either way, they married on December 21, 1974. 

After brief teaching positions in Caledonia and Redwood Falls, Mark and Ardis settled in Annandale, MN where they renovated a 1920’s craftsman and raised their three children, Kirsten, Peter, and Ellie. Mark taught in the Annandale Public Schools for nearly 30 years. Thousands of students were inspired by his passion for music and perseverance to teach them to match pitch. Mark insisted on separate boys and girls junior high choirs, primarily so he could get those boys to learn to love singing with at least one less distraction. Generations of students devoted to singing, participated in choirs from the start of junior high through senior high school musicals and madrigal dinners. Numerous students have followed in his footsteps to become choir teachers themselves.

Mark was full of energy and optimism, balancing several projects and service roles at all times. In addition to home renovations and set-building for plays and musicals, Mark taught continuing education classes (PLS), served in various roles for the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) and for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) including the F. Melius Christiansen Endowment Committee. When his children were old enough to work a summer job, Mark and Ardis bought a concession stand, perfecting the art of corn dogs and cotton candy. He loved to tinker on the computer and pound on the piano. In his downtime, he enjoyed running, nordic skiing, shooting baskets and playing catch with his kids, playing Whist with his family, and golfing with friends (twice he has made a hole-in-one!). He was a hard worker and supported his family as the sole breadwinner for many years, working as an equal partner with Ardis to make the choice for her to stay home with their children when they were young. 

Mark was an avid reader of the newspaper and liked to stay informed. He cared deeply about politics and environmentalism. He supported compassionate and forward-looking leaders and environmentally focused technologies and policies. He loved to constantly monitor his energy savings after installing geothermal and solar panels at their Annandale house. And watch your step in the garage around the cord for the plug-in hybrid. 

Mark’s faith was a significant part of his identity. As part of an artwork created by his son, he was asked “Who will you be in the future?” Mark answered “I will be a child of God.” Mark enjoyed serving his church in a wide variety of ways with his gifts of leadership and music. His angelic tenor voice graced his New London congregation from the time he was young, and throughout his life he sang for countless funerals and weddings. Mark and Ardis considered going to seminary together more than once, but in the end they believed that the church needed them as faithful lay leaders. Along with directing the church choir at St. John’s Lutheran in Annandale for 35 years, Mark served in volunteer roles at his home congregations and in the Southwestern MN Synod of the ELCA.

In retirement, Mark enjoyed traveling, taught voice lessons, was an avid golfer, and a loving grandfather to his six grandchildren. In 2023 Mark and Ardis moved to Edina in order to more easily participate in dementia research at the Rochester Mayo Clinic. In Edina they made a new community of friends at 7500 York Cooperative and Edina Community Lutheran Church. In early 2026, they returned to central Minnesota.

Known for his sparkling blue eyes, Mark radiated joy and light to everyone he met. He had a knack for humor even when faced with hard times, such as when his mother suffered from dementia. He loved to tell the story of when his family picked up his mother for church, along with another woman from her memory care unit. As they got into the car, the two women introduced themselves, eventually discovering they lived at the same facility right across the hall from each other. “I live down the hall and to the right.” “Well, I live down the hall and to the left.” “Can you believe it?!” Mark often said “You laugh or you cry,” and more often than not, he chose to laugh.

This was especially true in his own six-year journey with Frontaltemporal Dementia (FTD). Throughout this depleting disease, Mark maintained a sense of joy and positivity. He gave his family so much light in a time of relative darkness. Though he eventually lost his ability to speak, Mark continued to share his joyful smile, enthusiastic handshakes, warm hugs, and infectious laughter. These actions were a source of comfort for his family. They symbolized his love for life and his love for his family and friends to the very end.

Mark died peacefully surrounded by his family at age 73 on May 1, 2026. Mark is survived by his wife, Ardis C. Nelson, children Kirsten Nelson Roenfeldt (Steven), Peter Becker Nelson (Jane) and Ellie Hallquist (Jeremy), his grandchildren: Axel and Else Roenfeldt, Liv and Cora Nelson, and Weston and Clayton Hallquist. Mark is also survived by three siblings: Renae Keesbury (George), Leonard Nelson (Linda), Denise Kalevik (Greg), three sisters-in-law and eleven beloved nieces and nephews. Mark is preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Jessie, his stepfather, Edwin Belgum, his brother Craig A. Nelson (Survived by Virginia Carr), and his nephew Jeremy Kalevik. 

The family wishes to thank the staff of Good Shepherd Community, Sunrise of Edina, Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CentraCare Hospice. The family also thanks the friends and colleagues who have shared their memories and stories of our beloved spouse, dad, and Poppop. Keep ‘em coming! A memorial service will be held at Salem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, MN on Tuesday, May 12th at 11:00 am, with a visitation one hour before and luncheon following. A choir will be assembled for the service, if you would like to sing with us please come to rehearsal Tuesday at 9:15 am at the church.

If you wish to remember Mark with a gift, give it to Team Nelson with the Walk to End Alzheimer's or Nelson Pride with the Ride to End ALZ of MN. Share Mark’s dream that Dementia would be ended for all. Mark donated his own body to Alzheimer's and dementia research at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.