Ушел из жизни 94-летний профессор математики НДГУ Гилберт Нельсон, прослуживший университету 40 лет

Gilbert "Gil" Nelson Gilbert “Gil” Nelson, 94, of Fargo, passed away August 25, 2026, just two days after celebrating his 94th birthday. Born August 23, 1932, in Bisbee, North Dakota, Gil was the youngest of four children of John Nelson (Johan Nilsson) and Hedwig Tuebner. He grew up in a Soo Line Railroad section house, where his father was section master. His sisters were Fay and Mae who he loved deeply, and his brother was John “Fred”, who he idolized. His stepfather was Julius Kiedaisch. ADVERTISEMENT Gil was valedictorian of his high school class, a multisport athlete, and active in theater and the school newspaper. He attended North Dakota Agricultural College (now NDSU), where he earned a degree in mathematics education, participated in Sigma Chi and Phi Kappa Phi, and served in Air Force ROTC. After one year of teaching and coaching basketball in Sheldon, ND, Gil was commissioned into the Air Force, where he was one of twenty scientists chosen to work for the National Advisory Council for Aeronautics, the predecessor to NASA, testing jet engines in wind tunnels in Cleveland, OH. He returned to Fargo in 1957 to pursue his master’s degree. That same year, he met Carolyn Callenbach in an Advanced Algebra class. Gil was the star of the class; Carolyn was the only woman. They were soon spending all of their time together, and, even though Carolyn’s dad thought Gil was too old for his daughter, they were married in April 1959. Their early years included 11 moves in 10 years, graduate studies at the University of Oklahoma and Montana State University, and the arrival of three children. They eventually settled on College Street in Fargo, where they lived for 38 years. Gil devoted 40 years to teaching mathematics at NDSU, from 1957 to 1997, and was beloved by generations of students. His family continues to hear from former students who say he was the best teacher they ever had. He had a gift for making mathematics understandable and believed students should be tested on what they had been taught—“no surprises.” Gil was a member of AMVETS, Kiwanis, and First United Methodist Church. He loved reading, crossword puzzles, card games, and, most of all, his Bison. He attended countless NDSU sporting events and passed his love of the Bison on to his children and grandchildren. He also had a wonderful singing voice that often turned heads when he joined in on a hymn. ADVERTISEMENT In 1980, Gil and Carolyn became guardians to Karl, Kaarin, and Bjorn Knudson, who extended the parenting years and added much joy and love to the family. In 2004, Gil was a miracle when he survived an abdominal aortic aneurysm and began what the family called his “bonus years,” giving him more than two decades to watch his children and grandchildren grow and build families of their own. Gil was a hardworking, practical, stubborn, proud, and quietly funny man. He was known for his one-liners and provided many memorable conversations to family and friends. He was proudest of his family and made sure the staff at his care facility knew about their accomplishments. Gil is survived by his wife of 67 years, Carolyn, Fargo; children, Paul (Beth Laffey) Nelson, Rochester, NY; John (Cindy) Nelson, West Fargo; and Karla (Duane) Erlandson, Ham Lake, MN; grandchildren, Maeve (Alex), Fiona, Isaac, Adam (Kayci), Elle (Grant), Luke (Yi), Ryan (Matea), Aaron (Lindsey), and Jocelyn (Kaden); great‑grandchildren, Shaina, Brooks, Elliott, and Wesley; brother in law, John (Largo) Callenbach, Mission, KS; and many beloved nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo with a visitation one hour prior. Arrangements entrusted to Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home - Fargo, ND