Kristi Nelson

KRISTI JO NELSON was born on January 17, 1962 in Pipestone, Minnesota. She was raised by loving parents Dennis and Lori (Habben) Mead. She attended Pipestone High School, graduating in 1981. On December 30, 1982 she was united in marriage to David Nelson at St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone. She continued her education in Casper, Wyoming, receiving her certificate in cosmetology and worked at the salon in JC Penney. In 1985, Kellie was born. In 1987, they moved back to Pipestone. In 1990, Paul was born and he and Kristi shared the same birthday, which they always enjoyed. Kristi stayed home to care for their children and also watched several neighborhood kids. She owned Flowers 'N More with Sandi Newgard. She also worked at A&S Drug and Pipestone Interiors. In 2015, she began working as a paraprofessional for Pipestone Area Schools. She found her true passion working with the students. In 2016, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She fought back, lived her days fully, and was even able to see three more grandchildren enter the world.
On October 16th, 2021 she entered hospice care at the Pipestone County Medical Center where she died on Sunday, October 17, 2021 at the age of 59 years and 9 months.

Kristi was a member of St. Leo Catholic Church where she liked to help with washing the linens for the church. She loved flowers, gardening, and interior decorating. Every year during harvest, there were many trips out to the field between Kristi and her sister-in-law, Sara to bring meals out to their husbands. She was very thoughtful in the gifts she chose. She would always find just the right thing! Kristi loved being a para and having the ability to help children, even at a distance with remote learning. Kristi was the BEST grandma. She loved to have tea parties, sleep overs, go school shopping, and always had unique craft ideas to do with her grandchildren. She would always respond “I love you more,” a response they each knew and treasured. Kristi and her family gathered for special weekend in Okoboji, Iowa just one week before Kristi’s death. The family will always be grateful for the memories that Fabulous Moments, a non-profit organization, made possible and will treasure that time forever.

Kristi is lovingly remembered by her husband, David of Pipestone; two children, Kellie (Lucas) Lorenzen of Harrisburg, South Dakota, and Paul (Frankie) Nelson of Emery, South Dakota; her father, Dennis Mead of Luverne; six grandchildren, Elyse, Madison, Leo, and Baby (on the way soon) Lorenzen, and Robert and Roanin Nelson; and two siblings, Mike (Lori) Mead of Luverne, Minnesota and Kim (Anthony) Hobson of Phoenix, Arizona. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lori; one brother, Gary; her father-in-law, Robert Nelson; and one brother-in-law, Jeffrey.