Ron Nelson

Ron Nelson,66 of Livingston, Montana passed peacefully from his earthly adventure on Monday, January 30, 2017. On Saturday, March 11th, a Memorial Service will be held at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home in Livingston at 2:00 pm. This Celebration of Life will be a public, non-denominational gathering of friends and family, as well as business associates and customers. People who have personally known Ronald are invited to attend. Whether you are able to attend or not, if you would like to share your experience with Ron or express your sentiments, please email your write-up to nelsontreecare@hotmail.com. Many of these will be read at the memorial. In 1950, he was born to Robert and Dorothy Nelson in West Springfield, Massachusetts, and spent his youth growing up mostly in rural upstate New York. He was an avid Boy Scout, achieving Eagle Scout, delivered newspapers, played clarinet in band, and enjoyed ice hockey as a boy. Always loving the great outdoors, he developed an immense respect for nature, gardening, trees, and the blessings and beauty of the four seasons. Upon high school graduation in 1968, the family was surprised when he decided to pursue a degree in agriculture at the State University of New York at Alfred. A pivotal point in Rons life occurred in April 1969 when he was just 19. His father unexpectedly passed away at the age of 46 from lung cancer. Ron had always been a seeker of the higher truth since he was a young, and so he left college for a few years to find himself and his own way. He went to Maine and studied arbor care which would ultimately be his lifelong love and vocation. His on-the-road travels as a young man took him on a bike ride from New York state down the east coast to Florida and Texas. His cross country hitch-hiking excursion took him to California and then to Minneapolis where he earned his Masters Degree in Agriculture. He then returned to California to pursue his spiritual path and where he married at 32 and had his beloved son, Jeremiah. Though he and his first wife parted, he remarried and entered the most stable period of his life here in Montana in 1990 with Lou Ann and her son, Mike. He enjoyed many memories of happy times with his family on vacations to Disney World and lots of boating. Ron also experienced his most rewarding success from his own business, Nelson Tree Care, where he met so many local friends and customers and trimmed thousands of trees throughout Park County. Years ago, he was a key player in getting Livingston designated as an All American Tree City and was a member of the first Livingston tree board. Before his passing, Ron was comforted to know that his tree legacy - his tree work and his tree care business - will continue in Livingston. Ron will best be remembered for his incredible love of nature and trees, seeing and appreciating the beauty in natural surroundings and wildlife, his personal search for the divine, his sense of humor and great laugh, his kindness and smiles for everyone he met along lifes journey, and his love for his family and friends. Ron is survived by Lou Ann Nelson of Livingston, his son Jeremiah Nelson in Florida, his step-son Michael Marosits in Bozeman, his loving sister Laurie Witherell in Massachusetts, and his little dog Baby. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Smile Train charity.