Ingvar Ludvig Nelson was born April 10, 1919, in Buford, AB, to Swedish immigrant parents, Louis and Ellen Nelson.  He was the eldest of 5 children, siblings Olga, Roy, Hazel, and Eric. The family moved around a bit, living in Skamokawa, Washington and Pritchard, BC before settling in the Peace River area community of Sweetwater, around 1930. In 1937, at the age of 18, Ingvar and his father applied for land in the newly surveyed area near Golata Creek, on the north side of the Peace River.  Ingvar built a cabin on his quarter in 1938 and a few acres of land were cleared by hand.

In 1941 Ingvar was called up for military training and joined the Army for overseas duty.  He was stationed in Scotland until the end of WW2 with the Canadian Forestry Corps.

After returning home in 1945, he acquired a loan from the VLA for some land improvements and promptly filed on another parcel of adjoining land.

In 1950 he met Maria “Rita” Cohrs, who had immigrated a year or so earlier. They married in October of 1951, and after staying in Dawson Creek for the winter, they moved to the farm in March of 1952. This is the land where Ingvar and Maria raised their family and called home for the next 46 years.  Together they farmed, operated a market garden, and he enjoyed trapping, hunting, and fishing in the area.

After a wonderful life on the farm, it was decided to move to Fort St. John in the summer of 1998. They found a small place to call home, enjoying their yard, flower beds, small vegetable garden and apple trees in the backyard. It was easy for the family to visit here and there was always someone around for coffee at lunch time.  For the past couple of years, Thess, a wonderful caregiver has become an important part of Ingvar and Maria’s lives.

He was a proud hardworking pioneer. He served his country, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. The callused hands that worked the land could also gently hold each newborn baby that joined the family. He was truly a gentle man.

Ingvar leaves his wife of 71 years, Rita; his 4 living children – Dennis and Mavis, Judy and Jim Schilling, Clifford and Karen, Dale and Debbie; 12 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.  Ingvar was predeceased by his son Robert and granddaughter Kristy.