Kellie R. (Hayden) Nelson, age 58, of Townsend, passed away August 13, 2023 from complications of a 11 month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Kellie was born on April 27, 1965 in Blackwell, Oklahoma 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, Montana in 1989 and married Jim Nelson on August 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, ID; 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, ID, and 5 nieces; 2 nephews; 14 great nieces and nephews; and an aunt, Gwen Burns of Ponca City, OK.
Services will be held in Bonners Ferry, ID at St. Ann’s Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 19, 2023. A Celebration of Kellie’s Life will be held in Townsend, MT at a later date.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Saturday August 19, 2023
St. Ann's Catholic Church
6712 El Paso St.
Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Saturday August 19, 2023
St. Ann's Catholic Church
6712 El Paso St.
Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805
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Lorrie Vennes says
Jim and family,
Our sincere sympathy to you all. Kellie was a wonderful person, always had time to visit and share a smile or laugh. May our Lord be with you during this difficult time.
God’s Peace,
Gail and Lorrie
Kathy Sayer Large says
I am so sorry for the loss of Kellie. I only met her at our last class reunion, but she definitely made an impression on me. She was very personable, fun and down to earth. You and she struck me as such a good match. She was lovely. My heart is with you and your family .
She will always be with you in your heart and soul. She will continue to bring smiles and laughter and beautiful memories and your children and grandchildren. You are her legacy and she lives in that as well. You gave her many years of support, love and happiness. Her life was much too short, but it was a happy one and that is a credit to you.
I am happy to know both of you. My sincerely sympathy as you go forward.
Erin Cobban says
Zach, Chelsey and family… My heart hurts to hear about your sweet mom. She was always so kind and funny. She loved her boys deeply. She even took in all your friends and treated them as if they were her own. She fought hard. She was a tough women. May she rest in peace. Time and memories will heal your hearts but the void will always be there. Please reach out if you need anything.
Jeff & Darlene says
Jim, Zach, Eli and Jordan,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Darlene and I moved in next door to Kellie’s parents in 2003, and met Kellie shortly after that. Kellie, Jim and the boys visited Idaho frequently, so we got to know them fairly well over the years. Kellie became very active in helping her parents with the household/yard/farming chores over the years. This included helping out during calving season, fixing fences, driving a big green tractor running a swather or a bailer during haying season, yet still finding time to make family time back in Townsend. She was on cloud 9 with the two new granddaughters Kinsley & Ember, and talked about them all the time. Kellie’s big blue eyes said it all and put a smile on anyone’s face when she was around. She became a great friend over the years, shared lots of laughs, and I will miss the fishing trips we had along with her dad, and the barn socials once the work was done. Jeff & Darlene