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Clara Lethrud was born on November 5, 1923, in Fortuna, North Dakota, to Peter M. and Julia Amelia Johnson Lethrud. She moved to Bonners Ferry in 1936 and graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1942.
On September 4, 1954, she married Joe Nelson in Sandpoint. They moved to Moyie Springs.
She was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Bonners Ferry. She joined Eastern Star in 1965. She served several terms as Worthy Matron over the years. She was also the Guardian Secretary to the Jobs Daughter bethel in Bonners Ferry.
She worked for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service in Bonners Ferry for 36 years, retiring as the Office Manager/County Executive Director in 1984. After retiring, they moved to Seattle and then to Portland, where they had resided for the last 25 years.
Family meant everything to her. She tried to attend every event that her children were involved in. She loved watching her grandchildren perform whenever she could attend their events. She loved to fish and camp in the summers. She was a huge Badger fan when Leonard was playing sports. After moving to Portland, she became a major Trailblazers fan and cheered and critiqued all of their games.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings Alfred (Dutchie), Elenora, Anna, Marie, Helena, Aggie and Henry.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Joe, in Portland, daughter Linda (Lee) Lampton, Libby, Montana, sons Richard Nelson, New York, NY, and Leonard (Cheryl) Nelson in Portland, grandchildren Jeremy Carr, Portland, Lucas Lampton, Libby, and Jacob, Elizabeth and Spencer Nelson all in Portland, great-grandchildren Jonothan Carr, Portland, and Hailee Lampton, Libby, brother Olaf (Carol) Lethrud, Bonners Ferry, step grandchildren Eric Lampton and Ivy (Mike) Bond and step great grandchildren Tyler, Ezra and Carter.
She had a special love for the Shriners Hospital, so donations in her name may be made to the Shriners Hospital, Office of Development, 911 W. 5th Ave, Spokane, WA 99204, or to the charity of your choice.