Kellie Nelson, 58

Kellie R. (Hayden) Nelson, 58, of Townsend, Mont., passed away Aug. 13, 2023, from complications of an 11-month battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

Kellie was born on April 27, 1965, in Blackwell, Okla., to Bill and Jaylyn (Burns) Hayden. She moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, at the age of 4. She went to school in Bonners Ferry and graduated from high school in 1983.

Kellie moved to Townsend in 1989 and married Jim Nelson on Aug. 23, 1990. They raised three boys: Zach, Eli and Jordan. She worked several jobs, from a meat processing shop to a drug store and even a newspaper, the Townsend Star. But mainly, she was a farm and ranch wife.

Kellie is survived by her parents, Bill and Jaylyn Hayden of Bonners Ferry; her husband, Jim Nelson; sons Zach (Chelsey) Dirks and granddaughter Kinsley; Eli (Katie) Studer and Jordan (Crystal) Nelson and granddaughter Ember; a sister, Kim (Rob) Pluid of Bonners Ferry; and five nieces, two nephews, 14 great-nieces and great-nephews; and an aunt, Gwen Burns of Ponca City, Okla.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bonners Ferry. A celebration of Kellie’s life will be held in Townsend at a later date.

Please visit www.stevensonwilke.com to offer condolences to the family or to share a memory of Kellie.