Valerie Jane Nelson

A memorial service for Valerie Jane Nelson, 82, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 27, 2024, in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.    

Mrs. Nelson passed away at 7:40 a.m., Thursday, August 22, 2024, at her home. 

She was born August 19, 1942, at Macuchi, Ecuador, to Frank Geltz and Paulina Anna D’Amour Geltz.  On January 27, 1968, she was married at Denver, Colorado, to Larry Lee Nelson, who preceded her in death on October 4, 2018.  Before her retirement, Mrs. Nelson was a microbiologist and medical lab technician.  Valerie loved gardening, sewing, cooking, watching Gunsmoke and traveling, especially to the Ocean.  She enjoyed raising rabbits and chickens.  She and her husband lived on an orchard in Ironton, Missouri for 18 years before moving to West Plains in 1988.  Anyone who knew her loved her.  Mrs. Nelson loved her friends and family, especially her grandchildren.  She gave her life to the Lord.

She is survived by two children, Laura Hurt and husband, Bob, and Christina Howell and husband, Robert, all of West Plains; eight grandchildren, Allison Ruengert, Chris Ruengert and wife, Leslee, Luke Freeman, Harlie Howell, Makala Howell, Bobbie Jo Howell, Audrey Howell and Emily Howell; and nine great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Adam, Sophia, Madison, Daylen, Bailey, Serenity, Nevaeh and Colton. 

Her parents, husband, and one brother, Daryl Andre Russell, preceded her in death.  

Memorial contributions may be made to Howell County Special Olympics, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Samaritan’s Purse or Tunnels to Towers  and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775.