Einar ‘Ike’ Glen Nelson, 74, of Okanogan, Wash., passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Wash, Nov. 13, 2012 after a long battle with multiple meningiomas.
     He was born on Sept. 8, 1938 in Anchorage, Alaska to Einar and Evalena (Thomas) Nelson. Ike’s family moved from Alaska to Washington State, before settling in northern California, where he graduated from Auburn High School in 1956.
     In October of 1956, Ike started working for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph. In the summer of 1959 he laid cable from Truckee to Squaw Valley for the 1960 Winter Olympics. Throughout his 43 years with the telephone company he has worked for Pacific Telephone & Telegraph, Pacific Northwest Bell, U.S. West and Qwest.
     In 1961, Ike was drafted into the U.S. Army, 1st Armored Division and served for two years. Upon his discharge, he returned to his previous position with the telephone company.
     In 1967 he was transferred to Spokane, Wash., where he worked until 1976, when he transferred to Omak.
     On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1982 he married Janet Timm at St. Mary’s Mission, Omak, Wash. They moved to the Timm Ranch on the Columbia River, where he quickly became part of the Timm family, and later fulfilled his dream of building their log “cabin.” He spent many happy hours enjoying the river, and teaching his children and many nieces and nephews to water-ski. In the winter months, he also taught many of them how to snow ski. Ike continued to work for the telephone company until his retirement in 2002, and served on the board of Nespelem Valley Electric from 1995 up until his death. He spent the last four years making a parts run to Ephrata for Randy’s Towing with his dog, Lucky, riding shotgun.
     Ike was a Golden Eagle member of the National Rifle Association and he spent countless hours volunteering at the Loup Loup ski hill as a member of the ski patrol and serving on the board. He also had many other interests including the Boy Scouts of America, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the Mule Deer Foundation. His enthusiasm as a Cougar fan began when his children attended WSU, and he particularly enjoyed watching his nephew, Will Derting, play for the Cougar football team. Ike always enjoyed a good beer with good friends.
     Ike is survived by his wife, Janet; his children, Erika Nelson of Lake Tahoe, Calif., Einar (Jodi) Nelson of Lake Tahoe, Nev., Katie Timm, and Asa Timm of Coulee City, Wash.; his grandchildren, Kjeleena, Isaiah, Cody, Kallie, Kaelin, and Kianna; his sister, Mary Carol Nelson of Leavenworth, Wash.; his niece, Svea (Chris) Grover of Hailey, Idaho; and his nephew, Stein (Lisa) Christopher of Bellingham, Wash. Ike is also survived by his extended Timm family which he has been part of for 30 years.
     A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 24, 2012 at the Performing Arts Center, Omak.
     In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Loup Loup Ski Education Foundation.
     Please join the family following the service in the Recreation Room at the PAC and then at the Okanogan Eagles to share memories of Ike.
     The family would like to thank the staff at the Colville Tribal Convalescent Center in Nespelem, Wash. and the Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Wash. for the excellent end of life care.
     Precht-Harrison-Nearents Chapel and the Okanogan Co. Crematory, LLC are in care of the arrangements.