Leatha Nelsen

Leatha F. (Davis) Nelsen, formerly of Nebraska City, died at the age of 98 on July 2, 2024 at Eastmont in Lincoln, Nebraska where she lived for 13 years.

Leatha was born on March 13, 1926 to Clarence E. Davis and Mary S. (Meyer) Davis at the family home in Walton, Nebraska.

She graduated high school in Percival, Iowa in 1943, and married Ralph N. Nelsen on September 21, 1946 at the First Lutheran Church in Nebraska City. They were married for 64 years.

Leatha worked at Otoe County Bank for 29 years, starting out as a bookkeeper and ending her career as the head teller. She made many lifelong friends there who continued to visit her even after she moved to Lincoln.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph N. Nelsen, brothers Kenneth, Clyde, and Roy Davis and sisters Vivian Sell and Emma Briley.

She is survived by her children, David Nelsen and wife Nancy Lorenz of Lincoln, Jacqueline (Nelsen) Sanks and husband Randy, three grandchildren: Tara Mata and husband Fidel of Decatur, Illinois; Nathan Sanks and wife Jaime of Lincoln, and Sherry Nelsen Smith and husband Charli of Marion, Illinois; six great grandchildren: Athena Mata, Trinity Mata, Cordelia Mata, Kaden Sanks, Calissa Sanks, and Charli Smith as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Funeral services will be held at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Nebraska City on July 6 at 10:00 in the morning.

Memorials may be given to St Jude Children’s Hospital or Eastmont Retirement Community.

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