Michael B. Nelson, 15, schoolboy, saved Roger H. Verworn and Darrell B. Ziesemer, 13 and 11, respectively, schoolboys, from drowning, Milltown, Montana, June 11, 1959. Roger and Darrell were playing on a raft which was caught by the swift current in the rain-swollen Blackfoot River, carried rapidly downstream, and became lodged against accumulated debris atop a submerged pier 25 feet from the bank. Roger, a poor swimmer, fell from the raft and began drifting downstream, calling for help and being submerged intermittently. Darrell, who could not swim, remained on the raft and also called for help. Michael ran 300 feet to the water’s edge, jumped into the cold water fully clothed, and swam 25 feet to where Roger had disappeared beneath the surface in water 20 feet deep. Submerging himself in the muddy water, Michael located Roger and surfaced with him. With effort Michael towed Roger forty feet diagonally across the current to the bank. Michael then ran 300 feet to a dwelling, obtained a 30-foot rope, and carried it to the bank opposite the raft. He threw one end of the rope to Darrell, who tied it to the raft. While a young boy and two women held the other end of the rope on the bank, Michael ran 1200 feet upstream to where a rowboat was tied. Using a board for an oar, Michael proceeded downstream in the boat, which also struck the debris atop the pier. Michael pushed the rowboat free and swung it alongside the raft. After helping Darrell aboard, Michael pulled the boat along the rope extending from the raft to the bank.
44841-4296Obituary
Michael Bruce Nelson passed away September 23, 2024 surrounded by friends and family. He went peacefully at home in his big chair resulting from complications from prostate cancer. Michael was born June 16, 1944 to Thomas and Gerda Nelson in Missoula, MT. Mike was very proud of his Scandinavian heritage, being half Swedish and half Norwegian. He had one mailing address his entire life, Box 4, Milltown. He was a proud attendee of Bonner Elementary. In 1959 Mike received his Eagle Scout award from Post 5 in Bonner. Additionally, he received two awards for saving two boys from drowning in the Blackfoot River, one being the Carnegie Hero Award and the other being the Boy Scouts of America Honor Medal for Heroic Action at the Risk of His Own Life. Mike graduated from Missoula County High School with a 5 year degree in 1963, this led to attending many class reunions over the years which Mike and Linda truly enjoyed. Mike also attended Western Montana College in Dillion and University of Montana in Missoula for 2 plus years.
Mike was married to Linda Shults on July 2, 1966, and this was the happiest day of his life. Together they had two children, Sara born February 28, 1971 and Matthew born May 26, 1977. After the birth of Sara, they decided apartment life wasn’t for them and they moved to their lifelong residence on Marshall Grade so Mike could pursue his dream of being a cattle rancher.
Mike started his working career as a paperboy in Milltown where he earned a dollar per week. He knew everyone in Milltown by their first name and could recall their address even after many years. This started his lifelong love of people and led to his motto, “the more the merrier”. After a brief stint at Montana Power, he settled into his final career with the Montana Highway Department, working around 30 years until his retirement on December 31, 2001. Throughout his life Mike was an entrepreneur, including Christmas trees, a vending route, raising livestock, and harvesting hay.
Like his mother Gerda, Mike didn’t like to travel far away from Milltown. One high point of Mike and Linda’s life was a lengthy trip to New York City, Florida, St Croix, New Orleans, and Seattle with their dear lifelong friends, Pat and Judy McDonald. Mike could also be lured away from home to the Dillon area to go hunting with friends and son Matt. In his later years Mike was content to hunt the wildlife with his binoculars from his chair at the kitchen table. He enjoyed watching elk, deer, bears, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, turkeys, and his beloved hummingbirds.
Mike enjoyed animals of all kinds, including chickens, turkeys, pigs, sheep, goats, cows, horses, and cats. He had a special fondness for Griffon hunting dogs or any dog that sat below his kitchen chair where he would sneak them table scraps. The only thing Mike enjoyed more than the company of animals was the company of all of his friends and family. Mike was a storyteller and especially liked to make his granddaughters laugh with his funny quips. The holidays were an important time in the Nelson household, especially Christmas where Mike was known to invite anyone who didn’t have plans for a Christmas dinner. He made sure to continue the traditional Norwegian delicacies such as lutefisk, potato sausage, and lefse.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, older sister Karen Welch and younger brother Donnie Nelson. Survivors include his loving wife of 58 years, Linda; daughter Sara McDonald and her husband Kevin of Kalispell; son Matt Nelson and his wife Heather of Milltown; older sister Ruth Jones of Phoenix; and younger sister Julie Williams of Hayden, Idaho; and granddaughters Holly, Carly, and Lindsay McDonald; and many nephews and nieces.