Don Samuel Nelson was born on August 17, 1939, in St. George, Utah, to Jonathan Pratt and Polly Abigail (Judd) Nelson. He passed away the morning of February 9, 2026, in Spanish Fork, Utah. He spent his childhood in St. George, graduating from Dixie High School and then Dixie Junior College.
Don was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission in South Africa, where he made life-long friends. He had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ.
Don met Esther Woodbury on December 14, 1963. After their first date, Don told his mother he met the woman he was going to marry. Don and Esther were sealed in the St. George Temple on July 18, 1964. They were blessed with three sons and two daughters.
Don was a truck driver, spending many hours on the road in his trucks. He worked for Milne Truck Lines, Jensen Trucking, Ned Kofford Trucking, Harrison Trucking, and several others. Dad took many of the grandkids on the truck, and they enjoyed their time with him.
Don loved his family, and his family loved him. He was one of the favorites at the annual Nelson Family reunion, where he let his hair down and had fun. He made sure to visit with everyone, and made everyone feel special and loved. His nieces and nephews (and there were many of those!) loved him dearly.
Don is survived by his wife, Esther, and five children: Samuel and Stacie (Cherrington) of American Fork, Utah; Gary and Aubrey (Christensen) of American Fork, Utah; Scott and Rachael (Cowley) of Blue Springs, Missouri; Paula Nelson of Spanish Fork; and Terilyn and Timothy Lurker, Sr. of Lehi, Utah. He is also survived by 17 grandkids (Sammie, Sierra, Tiffani, Cody, Tyson, Jacob, Mathew, Aspen, Cora, Miranda, Gina, Heather, Trevor, Emma, Ashley, Timothy Jr, and Sterling) and 9 great-grandkids (Chase, Madison, Declan, Juniper, Jayden, Kym, Levi, Max, and Dakota) and 1 soon-to-be great-great-grandkid. He is also survived by his friend and lunch buddy, George Paice. Don is preceded in death by his grandson Houston Nathaniel Nelson, granddaughter Lisa Michelle Nelson, and great-grandson Preston Gerald Anderson, and daughter-in-law Sarah Louise Nelson. He is also preceded in death by his parents, and 11 siblings: Erma Wilson, Beatrice Bundy, Noreen Hall, John Nelson, Jean Heath, Marie Cox, Theron Nelson, Bernice Pickett, Valeen Empey, Ken Nelson, and Rulon Nelson. There was quite the reunion for the Nelson family when Don passed away.
The family would like to thank Paula for all she did for our parents, as well as McCall, Camille, and Kori for their help with Dad the last couple of weeks.
Dad….you will be missed.
A viewing will be held on Monday, February 16, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home at 187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork. The funeral service will be held at the Somerset Ward Building at 989 South Spanish Fork Parkway, Spanish Fork, on February 17, 2026, at 11:00 am, with a viewing from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral. The burial will follow in the American Fork City Cemetery.
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