Lillian Elvera (Valdahl) Nelson, age 94, Glendale, Ariz., formerly of Stanley, passed away peacefully on Nov. 8, 2009, in Glendale.

Lillian "Lil" was born March 2, 1915, in Oakland, Minn., to Andrew and Emma Valdahl. She was the sixth and last child born to this union. At six years of age, her mother passed away and at the age of 12 Lil came to Stanley to live with her sister and brother-in-law, Ida and Howard Madison. She attended Stanley schools and graduated from Stanley High School in 1933.

On June 13, 1937, Lil married Earl Nelson in Stanley at the American Lutheran Church. In 1940, Lil and Earl and the girls moved to Florida, where Earl worked as a civilian firefighter with the Army Air Corps. They returned to Stanley in 1944 to farm the Nelson homestead. Upon retirement in 1973, Lil and Earl moved to Mesa, Ariz., and remained there until Earl's death Oct. 29, 2004.

Lil pursued her passion for music as a member of the MacDowell Music Club, church choir director and soloist for numerous functions in the Stanley area. She was also active in the Women's Mission Circle at First Baptist Church and held numerous offices at the state and national levels for the American Baptist Women. Lil was also a leader in the Baptist Youth Fellowship for many years, instilling excitement in our young people to attend summer camp at Camp Bentley. She also attended the fellowship for adult leaders at camp where she participated in the planned events, whether it was teaching or work camp.

Lil was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Earl; brothers, Arthur and Edor Valdahl; sisters, Cora Grossenheider, Ida Madison and Josephine Trice; and grandson, Scott Hubbard, in 1992.

Lil is survived by: her daughters, Janice (and Daryl) Hubbard of Glendale, Ariz,, and Carolle Grisham of Keokuk, Iowa; five grandchildren, Tim Eidem and Joni Crenshaw of Iowa, Jeff Hubbard of Michigan, Shari Hubbard of Colorado, Michael Hubbard of California; eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation: Will be held at Springan Funeral Home in Stanley from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009.

Funeral service: Will be at First Baptist Church in Stanley on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, at 2 p.m.

Burial: Will be at Fairview Cemetery, Stanley.