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Willard "Bill" Nelson II, 79, of Cloquet passed away Feb. 28, 2023, at his home. He was born Sept. 3, 1943, in Cloquet, the son of Willard and Shirley (Muck) Nelson. Bill attended Jefferson Elementary School, Cloquet Middle School, Cloquet High School, and the University of Minnesota Duluth for three years. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

Bill grew up in the Big Lake area near Cloquet, and enjoyed being at Grampa and Grandma Muck's store on Eighth Street and spending time at their cabin. He was united in marriage to Roberta "Bobbi" Carlson on Nov. 19, 1966, at Palisade Baptist Church in Silver Bay. Bill worked for Bergquist Imports, Bell Telephone and Xerox over a span of 32 years. He enjoyed road trips, large or small, and listening to music. Bill was a member of the Big Lake Evangelical Covenant Church.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Shirley Nelson; paternal grandparents, August and Catherine (Grimm) Nelson; maternal grandparents, William and Jane (Rickard) Muck; his in-laws, Melvin and Grace (Sornberger) Carlson; and a sister, Diane Nelson. He is survived by his wife, Roberta "Bobbi"; children, Carolyn (Michael) Ritthaler, Marilyn (Thomas) Nichols, Philip (Wendy) Nelson and Chad (Tami) Nelson; grandchildren, Mikey (Hannah) Ritthaler, Nathaniel Ritthaler, Megan Ritthaler, Seth Ritthaler, Tommy Nichols, Bobbi Grace Nichols, Will Nichols, Nichola Nelson, Bethany Nelson, Sarah Nelson, Lucy Nelson, Levi Nelson, Victoria Nelson, Elliana Nelson and Ilexa Nelson; great-grandchildren, Azealia Ritthaler and Walker Ritthaler; siblings Stuart (Mae Belle) Nelson, David Nelson and Maryann Chisum; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He will be remembered as a loving husband, and wonderful dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa.

A funeral service with military honors was held March 6 at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. Spring interment will be held in Maple Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Covenant Park Bible Camp are preferred.

Pine Knot News, March 10, 2023