Patricia Louise (Noller) Nelson, daughter of Dr. Richard and Deloris Noller, was born May 6th, 1941, in Hebron Nebraska, a small farming community of 1900 people. She passed away on April 22nd, 2025, a few short weeks prior to her 84th birthday, and has gone to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In the early days, Patty grew up alongside her family, creating many memories around Hebron. Patty was the oldest of five children with Margaret, Douglas, Kathryn, and Pamela completing the family. They were always involved with the farm in some way and helped on many occasions to irrigate the corn working to the rhythm of planting season and harvest time. The sweltering summer days were rewarded with drinking from the cold, fresh sweet water well at the farm. One time she helped her parents, and her siblings gather honey and would then sell it out of a little wagon around town. There was enough honey and honeycomb left to have for breakfast on their buttery toast. Another time she flew in a Steerman biplane with her dad to treat some animals since he was a large animal Veterinarian. She often recalled her special horse by the name of Beauty whom she loved.
She graduated from Hebron High School in 1959 and attended Kansas State University in Manhattan Kansas where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1962. Patty always found a way to stay connected with her family. When her brother Doug came to college to attend Kansas State, she cooked her famous baked steak for him for dinner.
During her time at KSU she met David Bradley Nelson from McPherson Kansas. She soon fell in love, and they were united in marriage on October 7th, 1960, in the Danforth Chapel on the Kansas State University campus.
After graduation to begin their careers, Dave and Patty moved to Dodge City Kansas. Patty began teaching 4th grade and Dave started with an accounting firm. Soon, their first son, Bradley Allen Nelson, was born January 17, 1963. With all the changes she found teaching and being a mother was a little much. As resourceful as Patty always was, she opened a preschool so she could be with her son daily as well as continue earning income.
After a few years Dave, his brother John and their father Norris purchased an aluminum window company in McPherson Kansas which later became Continental Aluminum. Dave and Patty moved to McPherson to settle, and the family soon grew when Montgomery Paul May 31, 1965, Spencer Douglas April 2, 1966, Justin Miles January 23, 1970, and Chandler John August 14, 1972, were added. Patty was the glue for Dave and the five boys at every stage of life.
As the family expanded, their house on 1427 N. Maple St. was bursting at the seams full of boys and dogs. They moved to 740 E. Simpson Ave. in 1975 which included an in-ground swimming pool for the boys and plenty of room for Patty to make a home. Patty was an endless organizer and always made sure her boys were taken care of. Truly she gave sacrificial love with the thousands of loads of laundry and meals prepped. Patty was instrumental when Dave and she started their own investment business together called Nelson Real Estate.
Patty was a natural leader and loved to get involved, volunteering for the McPherson Public Library Board and long-range planning for the McPherson public schools, she joined ladies' groups like the Literature Club, PEO Sisterhood, and the Domestic arts Club. And of course, she always has a full calendar while enjoying the activities of the boys. As the boys grew, she took several jobs and worked outside the home. She was always interested in the arts, especially watercolors and lithography. She has enjoyed quite an art collection over the years.
As a parent, Patty’s primary interest was her boys and training them to be responsible young men. She involved them in their church, golf, Boy Scouts, T-ball, Football, Basketball. And always helped prep when Dave would take the boys, uncles, cousins, and friends on numerous hunting and fishing excursions. Patty believed in education, and she devoted her life to preparing her boys for college and to launch well in life.
After 25 years of living in McPherson, Dave took an accounting position in Topeka Kansas, and they relocated to their new home on the north side of Topeka. They joined the Northland Christian Church and were faithful attendees, with Dave singing in the choir, both involved in Sunday School, and Patty treasuring her weekly Bible Studies. Patty enjoyed playing golf and often played with David at the various golf courses in the Topeka area and their numerous travels. She made many friends along the way. She and Dave also loved to play Cribbage, and Patty taught the card game to her children and grandchildren.
When Dave became long term ill, Patty became his caregiver for several years when he developed Parkinson’s disease and passed away in November 2021. Learning to do life alone after 61 years of marriage was very hard. During this time, she continued serving at the church doing Bible studies with her friends, enjoyed walking with Mary Ellen, another widow, and movie night with Marilyn for fun and many laughs. She also enjoyed her regular Bunco dice game group.
She always said that anytime her children called and invited her she would say yes. These were the best times for her, she always said. That was Patty – always involved and making sure everyone was taken care of.
In her mid-30s Patty became a Christian by giving her life to Jesus. She became a praying woman where she uplifted her family faithfully until her last day. The Monday evening before passing away early Tuesday am, she is attending her regular Monday evening Ladies Bible Study. She consistently read her Bible and many books about the Christian Faith. She was notorious for journaling her thoughts and prayer requests. She often recalled the Haiti missions' trip to help the poor as an impactful moment in her Christian journey.
Undoubtedly, Matriarch Patty was the glue of the Nelson family and provided a constant flow of Christian love, support, and blessings to all her family. Patty was always serving and hosting many family gatherings, especially the Thanksgiving Holiday – food, fun, and celebration! Her desire was to live an upright life honoring God and being a witness for Him. Some of her favorite songs were “Majesty,” “People Need the Lord” and “Handel’s Messiah.” Well done, Patty!
She was preceded in death by her husband David, her oldest son Bradley, her parents, five aunts and two uncles. She is survived by their four sons Montgomery Paul Nelson, Spencer Douglas Nelson (Laurie), Justin Miles Nelson and Chandler John Nelson (Bonnie); nine grandchildren: Jordan, Levi, Hannah, Moriah, Josiah, Asher (Spencer and Laurie Nelson), Riley, Hope, and Miles (Justin Nelson); and 12 great-grandchildren: Benaiah, Evelyn, Jackson, Elijah, Ezra, Selah, Ronin (Jordan and Robyn Nelson) Aireanna, Havalah, Robert Aiden (Robert and Hannah Findlay), Beckham (Levi and Cassie Nelson), and Hartley (Riley and Mariah Nelson). She is also survived by three sisters, Margaret and (Michael Hardin), Kathryn and (Rodney Kirchhoff), and Pamela and (Michael Thurber), and one brother Douglas and (Nancy Noller); as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended cousins and relatives, and many friends from her Hebron High School graduating class, her years in McPherson, and her last years in Topeka.
Patty’s presence was strong and will continue with an enduring legacy.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Northland Christian Church, 3102 NW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66617. The family will receive friends from 9:00 AM until service time at the church on Saturday.
Memorial donations may be given to The Topeka Rescue Mission or to the First Baptist Church Missions in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.
Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.stockhamfamily.com.