Born in Willmar, Minn., Mark Lyndon Nelson was the youngest of five children of Leonard Nelson and Jessie Didrickson (Belgum) Nelson. Growing up in New London, Minn., he starred in musicals and plays, participated in choir and band, and was a three-sport athlete in cross country, basketball and baseball. Mark met the love of his life, Ardis Carol Petersen at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. They married in 1974 and together raised three children, Kirsten, Peter, and Ellie.
After teaching briefly in Caledonia and Redwood Falls, Mark taught in the Annandale Public Schools for nearly 30 years. Thousands of students were inspired by his passion for music from their first experiences in junior high choirs through high school musicals and madrigal dinners. Many of his students followed in his footsteps to become choir teachers themselves. Mark also directed the choir at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Annandale for 35 years.
In retirement, Mark enjoyed traveling, taught voice lessons, was an avid golfer, and a loving grandfather to his six grandchildren. Throughout Mark’s six-year journey with Frontaltemporal Dementia (FTD), he radiated joy and light to the people around him, despite losing his ability to speak.
Mark Lyndon Nelson 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, Weston and Clayton Hallquist, and Liv and Cora Nelson. 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 and his nephew Jeremy Kalevik.
A memorial service will be held at Salem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, Minn., on Tuesday, May 12, at 11 a.m., with a visitation one hour before and luncheon following. 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.