Vilet Elaine Nelson

Vilet "Elaine" Nelson, 93, passed away on February 19, 2026, in her home surrounded by her loved ones.

She was born on February 17, 1933, in Pocatello, Idaho to Dwight Hall Zundel and Vilet Elizabeth Lewis Zundel.

Elaine was raised on a farm in Pocatello, Idaho. She was the only girl in the family with 9 brothers.

She graduated from Pocatello High School in 1951. She took voice lessons from Mr. Petrone who was an opera singer. She loved to sing in choirs and to her children.

When she was 15, she met Larry Nelson. Years later, after he joined the Army and was sent to Korea, Elaine wrote to him and that was their courtship. They were married on November 21, 1952.

Larry worked for the border patrol and later was a criminal investigator. They moved to Mercedes, Texas; Sweetgrass, Montana; Detroit, Michigan; Metaline Falls and Chattaroy, Washington. In between moves, they had 6 children, Kenette, Nikki, Lance, Bill, Curtis and Frankie.

They eventually moved home to Pocatello to be closer to their family. Elaine served as a cub scout leader, Relief Society President 5 times, Young Women President and as Primary President 7 times including Stake and special needs. She was released from her last Primary President calling when she was 87 years old because she had fractured her ankle.

Elaine loved to garden and feed her family and many others with her harvest. She worked at Lenon's Cake Shop and Catering, where she learned to decorate cakes. This skill was used to bless her family and many others.

Elaine tried to walk every day with her sweet dog, Sedley. After she fractured her ankle, she was not able to walk and do the things she loved. She took up knitting hats for all her family, friends, and homeless people as well as children who needed them.

Elaine was known for her positive attitude. She was hard working, tenacious, compassionate and consecrated herself through service.

Elaine will be greatly missed and is survived by her husband, Larry, her daughters: Kenette Ellin (Bruce), Nikki Rowlan, her sons; Lance Nelson (Maria), Bill Nelson (Mary), Curtis Love and her sister-in-law Betty, 24 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Dwight, Earl, Voyd, Reed, Wayne, Erwin, William, Sylvester, Nephi and Glen and their wives, except Betty Zundel (Dwight). Her grandsons: Jerome, Jackson and Joshua and her son Frankie, also preceded her in death.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4010 Hawthorne Road, Pocatello, ID. Viewings will be held from 6:00 - 8:00 pm on Friday, February 27 and prior to the service on Saturday, beginning at 10:00 am.

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