William ("Bill") Arthur Nelson, 75, of Ames, Iowa, died June 21, 2013, at Bethany Manor, after a seven-year struggle with prostate cancer.
Bill was born April 17, 1938, at his family homestead near Rutland, North Dakota, to Ole and Leona (Buetow) Nelson, and was second of six children. He attended Rutland Consolidated School, and then Forman High School, graduating in 1957. His father passed away when Bill was nine years old, and his mother was hospitalized with respiratory illness during much of his childhood. Though these circumstances created personal and financial hardship for the family, Bill was determined to continue his education. He attended North Dakota State School of Science, in Wahpeton, North Dakota, for two years, then transferred to North Dakota State University in Fargo, and graduated with a B.S. in civil engineering in 1961. After graduation, he moved to Ames, Iowa, where he was employed at the Iowa Department of Transportation. He worked at the DOT as a highway engineer until his retirement in 2000.
Bill was born April 17, 1938, at his family homestead near Rutland, North Dakota, to Ole and Leona (Buetow) Nelson, and was second of six children. He attended Rutland Consolidated School, and then Forman High School, graduating in 1957. His father passed away when Bill was nine years old, and his mother was hospitalized with respiratory illness during much of his childhood. Though these circumstances created personal and financial hardship for the family, Bill was determined to continue his education. He attended North Dakota State School of Science, in Wahpeton, North Dakota, for two years, then transferred to North Dakota State University in Fargo, and graduated with a B.S. in civil engineering in 1961. After graduation, he moved to Ames, Iowa, where he was employed at the Iowa Department of Transportation. He worked at the DOT as a highway engineer until his retirement in 2000.