A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at the Kenai Senior Center in Kenai. Pastor Ken Hepner officiated.

Born in Minnesota in 1919, Betty Nelson challenged the "the traditional path" early on, attending college at the University of Minnesota, which she financed herself by working summers at Yellowstone National Park. It was there Mrs. Nelson's love for adventure was matched by her love for a handsome student park ranger named Paul Nelson. The two married in 1941.

Right after World War II, Mr. Nelson, an Army Air Corp flight instructor, set out to homestead the untamed Northern Territory of Alaska. Always up for a spirited journey, Betty Nelson said, "Let's go."

Fifty-nine years ago this month, Mrs. Nelson arrived in Seward, with her two toddler-age children, Ranger and Gypsy, and all their "worldly possessions" on the last voyage of the SS Yukon, which ran aground on its return trip south. The young family was dropped off by train outside of Seward, along Kenai Lake, where they eventually lived in a cabin next to a "real character named Nell," who turned out to be the famed "Alaska Nellie."

The Nelsons lived in and around Seward for 15 years, where Mr. Nelson was the administrator at the Tuberculosis Sanitarium. The family, which had now grown to include daughter and son, Paula and Bill, also established a homestead at mile 12.5 Kalifornsky Beach Road, outside of Kenai. A career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs took Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and their children out of Alaska for several years, but Alaska was never far from their minds.

In 1976, the retired couple moved back to Kenai to live out their dreams in the land they loved. All four of their children and their families soon followed. The extended family lived near each other along K-Beach Road for many years, where family dinners were, according to friends and relatives, "always large, frequent and fun."

When her beloved companion, Paul Nelson, passed away in 1991, Mrs. Nelson honored his life by living every day to the fullest. For more than a decade, she lived at the Kenai Senior Center, where she organized many a bridge game, beat everyone who took her challenge at Scrabble, quilted colorful designs, wore red hats and purple shoes and shared countless hours of laughter with her family, dear friends and fellow residents.

Mrs. Nelson's family says no family outing will ever be the same.

"Whether it's a trip to Tutka Bay, a walk on the beach, or a family dinner on Sunday night, she was always the life of the party," said her daughter, Gypsy Jolly.

"She was a good mom, a great mom. She was an exceptional person who really lived her life, taught us how to live happy and strong as a family, and was well-liked by everyone who knew her."

Mrs. Nelson was preceded in death by a son, Ranger; her husband, Paul; her parents and a brother.

Mrs. Nelson is survived by children, Gypsy and Joe Jolly of Kenai, Paula and Tim Keohane of Whidbey Island, Wash., Bill and Melinda Nelson of Kenai, and Marion Nelson of Kenai; grandchildren, Rob Jolly of Kenai, Jennifer Jolly and Evan Toolajian of San Francisco, Calif., Gavin Keohane of Washington, Caitlin Nelson of London and Clay Nelson of Kenai; great-grandchild, Jeneva Toolajian of San Francisco; sisters, Carol and her husband, Lloyd Hansen and Sylvia Boettger; brother, Roger and his wife, Joanne; special friends, Joanna Hollier, Susan Cushing, Randy Chalawsky and many others.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kenai Senior Center's "Senior Connection," 381 Senior Court, Kenai, AK 99611.

Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.