At 88 years of age, Fred E. Nelson may be the oldest ward financial clerk in the Church.
Serving in that capacity for more than 29 years in two different wards, he enjoys his work, is competent and accurate in his duties and loves to serve, according to his ward and stake leaders.But his Church service has not been limited to a calling dealing with finances. He has also served as a home teacher, bishop's counselor, missionary, Scoutmaster, temple ordinance worker and Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association president.
Brother Nelson (he's sometimes called Elmer because of the number of Freds in his family) has been financial clerk in the East Mill Creek 4th Ward, Salt Lake East Mill Creek Stake for the past 18 years. He also served as financial clerk for 11 years in the Columbus Ward, Salt Lake Granite Stake, in the 1940s.
Bishop Heinz Weixler, with whom Brother Nelson has served for more than five years, said the octogenarian has been "most faithful and accurate in the performance of his duties." The bishop said stake auditors have praised his work as being "very accurate and neat."
"He is always available when I need him. I marvel at how well he has learned the computer. That shows that age need not necessarily stand in the way of someone tackling an assignment in the Church," Bishop Weixler said.
Clint Gurney, managing director of the Church Finance and Records Department, said there may be some ward clerks in their late 80s who are still serving, but probably not many.
"It's wonderful, particularly if he picked up with the computer. At the time the Church moved to the computerized system, some clerks didn't want to continue serving" because they were overwhelmed by the technology, he added.
Brother Nelson's ability to learn the computer at an advanced age is probably tied to his early love for learning and interest in more complex subjects such as mathematics and physics. As a youth he also worked with a brother in building radios. So, while the computer was a challenge at first, it never intimidated him.
Allen S. Harden, computer specialist in the ward, acquainted Brother Nelson with the computer. "But it was Fred who taught himself how to operate the computer," explained Brother Harden. "He was really excited to learn the technology. At his age, I was amazed that he was so excited to learn. He read the manual from cover to cover and practiced regularly on the computer."
Brother Nelson, who has lived in Salt Lake City for more than 66 years, was born and raised in Brigham City, Utah. After graduating from Box Elder High School in 1925, he worked for a summer harvesting grain near Malad, Idaho, before enrolling at the University of Utah.
In the fall of 1926 he was called to serve in the Canadian Mission with headquarters in Toronto. Twenty-seven months there included service as a mission secretary, district leader and Scoutmaster.
After returning home, he secured employment designing natural gas lines for Mountain Fuel Supply Co. He had planned to return to the University of Utah, but stayed with the gas company. When the Depression hit and the company laid off engineers in 1930, he was offered a transfer to the company's accounting office. Even though it meant a pay cut, he was happy for the job opportunity. He worked in all areas of accounting before retiring in 1972 after 41 years with the company. His final assignment for 13 years was as chief accountant.
In his occupation and in the Church, Brother Nelson has always valued the importance of education and training.
"Education is important. I think it is part of the Lord's plan. That's what I've always told my children and grandchildren as I've supported them in their endeavors," he said.
While work and Church responsibilities have occupied much of his time, he has always saved time for his wife and family. He and his wife, Leona, whom he married in 1929 in the Salt Lake Temple, are parents of six children, five of whom are living. They also have 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
The Nelsons have enjoyed camping with their family and with ward members in the East Mill Creek 4th Ward and in the Columbus Ward, where Brother Nelson also served as Scoutmaster and second counselor in the bishopric.
When the family moved to the East Mill Creek area in 1957, he was again called as a Scoutmaster. Dozens of youth - his own sons and 65 boys in four deacons' quorums in the ward - remember the hikes, the camping and fishing trips, merit badge training and other Scouting activities they had with him. Hundreds of boys, now adults rearing families of their own, admire and respect their former leader, who in 1961 was presented the Silver Beaver Award by the Great Salt Lake Council for his Scouting, community and Church service.
"Life has been good to me, and the Lord has blessed me greatly. Life has been exciting and is still more exciting than ever," Brother Nelson said.
