Wilford Ray Nelson, age 80, of Mounds View, passed away on November 22, 2016 at the age of 80 at the VA Health Care Hospital in Minneapolis.

Memorial Services will be held for Wilford Ray Nelson and Willard Kay Nelson at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017 at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Annandale with Kelby Grovender officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, Annandale. Visitation will be 30 minutes prior to the service at the funeral chapel.

Wilford Ray Nelson was born, along with his twin brother, on November 26, 1935 to Walter and Alice (Nelson) Nelson at their farm near South Haven, Minnesota. Wilford Ray and his brother Willard Kay were identical twins and in their early life only their parents and sister could tell them apart. Ray and Kay did everything together until they went into the Navy. They were in 4-H, enjoyed playing in the high school band, in which Ray played the tenor saxophone and Kay played the alto sax. They were in Future Farmers of America for which they judged dairy products and crops. After graduation from Annandale High School in 1953, they went to Trinity Bible College in Chicago, IL. When they came home they went for 90 days of naval reserve training in Michigan. They both proudly served their country in the Navy during the Korean War. When aircraft communication was up-dated Ray volunteered to take the training to be an aviation electrical technician. Several pilots asked to have him as an enlisted air crew member of their aircraft. Ray advanced quickly to Aviation Electrical technician, 1st class.

Ray worked at Northern Ordnance Company and FMC as a machinist. Later he worked at a hardware store where he was able to give advice on what to purchase and how to use it. He has been President of the Fridley AA Club. He was very active in the club and worked in the kitchen for many years. Ray was generous with his friends and family. He loved to cook and share food and spend time with his friends. In March of 2016 Ray celebrated 47 years of sobriety. He attended Emanuel Christian Center in Fridley.

He was survived by his sister Linnea (Maris) Grovender of St. Anthony; brother, Willard Nelson of Denver, CO; sister-in-law Rosalie, TX of Palo Alto, CA and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Alice Nelson; and youngest brother Roger Nelson.

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