Lowell Bertel Nelson

LOWELL BERTEL NELSON, age 90, of Waseca, died on the evening of Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the Lakeshore Inn Rehabilitation Center in Waseca.

Lowell was born in Waseca on June 16, 1936, to Rueben Andrew and Anna Mary (Schwartz) Nelson. He attended school in Waseca and graduated from Central High School with the Bluejay Class of 1955. He then served with the United States Navy from 1955 until his honorable discharge in 1959. During his time in the service, Lowell married his high school sweetheart, Arlene Rudolph, on September 29, 1957, at Trinity Lutheran Church of Wilton.

Lowell grew up on a farm, but worked in manufacturing at Audio-Visual Research, Brown Printing and E. F. Johnson Company, where he worked for 25 years before his retirement. He assisted his father-in-law with spring planting and fall harvest. Lowell was a proud farmer at heart.

Lowell was a very outgoing man who enjoyed having coffee with friends. In fact, he would sometimes go to multiple coffee-group gatherings in a single day. He also enjoyed fishing, woodworking and repurposing items. He converted a school bus into a camper, used for camping with the family and fishing trips. He was a long-time member of Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca. He will be missed by many.

Lowell is survived by three daughters, Vicki Montgomery of Thurmont, Md., Tammy (Kevin Featherly) Nelson of Bloomington, and Debra (Cris Beal) Nelson of Andover; two grandchildren, Michael (Mary Beth) Montgomery of Frederick, Md., and Nathan Featherly of Bloomington; a great-grandson, Maxwell Montgomery of Frederick, Md.; a sister, Lois Bartz of Hermosa Beach, Ca.; and a sister-in-law, Janet Rudolph of Waseca. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a son-in-law, James Montgomery and a grandson, Zachary Featherly.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 7, 2026, at the Third Street Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Services in Waseca. Visitation will be held for one hour before the service at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Woodville Cemetery in Waseca.