Alton Carlyle Nelson (1933 – 2020) A Life fully Lived

Alton Carlyle Nelson was born July 19th, 1933 in Nashua, Montana to Mary (Evenstad) Nelson and Abraham Nelson. He was the fourth child of six and the only boy. In 1936 his family moved to the Willow Lake area of the Turtle Mountains in North Dakota and built a homestead that is still in the family. He went to school in Bottineau and was active in 4H as President of the Future Farmers. He graduated in 1951. Carlyle worked at Garrison Dam and joined the army. While in the army he travelled to Germany and Denmark. A "simple farm boy," as he called himself, he started working tractors at a young age and was a natural and gifted heavy equipment operator. He worked building roads for nearly 50 years with the Operating Engineers.

He met Teresa Davis of Belcourt, North Dakota in 1958 and they married and moved to San Francisco, California in 1960. He worked around the San Francisco bay and Lake Tahoe areas building roads, freeways, and tunnels. In 1967 he was offered work in Mendocino County, and he moved his family there to raise his children, Michael (b. 1961) and Melissa (b. 1968), in the country. He helped build Highway 1 and 101 from San Francisco to the Oregon border, often along the rugged Pacific coastline.

Carlyle was a renowned craftsman, welder, and builder, making stoves, trailers, furniture, and beautiful leatherwork, which was his trademark. Many people across the country (and through his daughter, around the word) have a leather bag made by him. He was very industrious, always building, creating, gardening, or cutting wood. He also loved to hunt and fish and ride snow mobiles. In his leisure time he enjoyed reading, watching Westerns, working leather, and visiting with friends and family.

Carlyle and Teresa divorced in 1991 and he moved back to Bottineau in 1992. He enjoyed tending to his farm in the hills and enjoying extended family and friends throughout the area.

Carlyle is survived by two of his five sisters, Ramona Hultman, 90, of Sturgis, South Dakota and Edna Mae (Teddy) Olufson-Smith, 80, of Edmonds, Washington. He was close with many local cousins in Bottineau and his nephews. He is survived by his daughter, Melissa Nelson (husband Colin Farish), of Mill Valley, California, who was his "pride and joy," and his ex-wife and lifelong friend Teresa Nelson, of Leggett, California. His beloved son, Michael Nelson, passed away in 1996. Carlyle died in his home on April 10th, Good Friday, 2020.

Memorial Gathering in honor of Carlyle Nelson

Saturday, June 20, 2020, 11 am to 4 pm

113 13th Street, Bottineau, North Dakota

We will gather outside in covered area to honor the life and memory of Carlyle. Food and drinks will be served. Open to all! Call 415-259-9902 with any questions.

A private burial will take place Sunday, June 21st at Rendahl Cemetery.