IN MEMORIAM: Merrill W. Nelson, 87;

Army Veteran Rose Up Ranks Of FHA

Merrill William Nelson, 87, an Otsego County native who rose to deputy regional administrator in the Federal Highway Administration, died Sept. 1, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.  His ashes were interred Monday, Sept. 25, in Hartwick Seminary Cemetery.

Merrill was born on Feb. 26, 1930, in Oneonta, to Alice Christine Simonsen, age 19, and William Peter Nelson, age 24.  He was baptized Easter Sunday April 20, 1930, by his grandfather, the Rev. N.P. Simonsen in St Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Laurens. His uncle Anton Nelson was named his godfather.