Nelson, Doris A. age 85 of Edina, MN left us peacefully on August 28, 2022. After enjoying dinner and conversation with her daughter and relaxing before bedtime with her usual glass of crisp white wine, she went to sleep. Doris Arlyne (née Archer) Nelson was born November 13, 1936, in Finley, North Dakota, the daughter of Arthur "Babe" and Gladys (née Cuthbertson) Archer. All her long life, Mom carried happy memories and wonderful family stories from her childhood in the small farm town. Her great grandparents had settled in Absaraka, North Dakota and were among the first homesteading pioneers to cut sod for huts and trees for houses on the North Dakota prairie. Doris and her sister Mary enjoyed visiting their cousins on the Madsen family farm and working in town at the movie theater their father owned. Before the girls started high school, Babe moved the family to south Minneapolis, as he felt the city held more opportunity for his two daughters. Doris graduated from Washburn High School and Macalester College in St. Paul. The Archer sisters each met the loves of their lives in Minneapolis: Two young men, both by the name of Nelson, both studying for careers in dentistry. On June 22, 1957 Doris was joined in marriage to Bruce Maynard Nelson in Minneapolis. Doris and Bruce moved to Stuttgart West Germany where Bruce served in the U.S. Army Dental Corps from 1960 to 1963. They returned to Minnesota with their first son, Steven, and lived in Golden Valley for over thirty years, welcoming two more children: Gail and Tony, and six grandchildren. Summers Doris and Bruce brought the family to their Wisconsin cabins, first on Matthews Lake and then Lac Court Oreilles, where in retirement they made their summer home. The Nelson and Woodbury families continue to enjoy generations-long family friendships formed in Golden Valley and on the shores and docks of Matthews Lake and Lac Courte Oreilles. Doris and Bruce's winter home in retirement was at Highland Woods in Bonita Springs, FL. Doris loved playing Scrabble and bridge and competed regularly at the Golden Valley Country Club (MN), the Hayward Golf Club (WI), and the Highland Woods Golf Club (FL) where she took some pride in being known as "The Queen of No-Trump". She had many friends and cherished spending as much time as possible with them and with her family. Doris was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years Dr. Bruce Maynard Nelson, DDS, parents Arthur "Babe" and Gladys Archer, sister and brother-in-law Mary and Dr. Lee Nelson, DDS, two brothers-in-law Stuart and Gerald Nelson, father- and mother-in-law Dr. Maynard and Cora (née Bennet) Nelson, and her grandson Graham Richard Bruce Nelson. Doris is survived by her three children, Steve Nelson of Woodbury, MN, Tony (Candace) Nelson of Crystal, MN; and Gail (Dan) Woodbury of Crystal, MN; six grandchildren, Dr. Dane Nelson DDS (Dr. Miranda Mulligan DDS), Drew (Jeannie) Nelson, Hannah (Luke) Kaney, Tommy Woodbury (Nora Byington), and Bridger Nelson; one great-granddaughter; two sisters-in-law, Beverly Nelson and Janet Nelson, and six nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 6:00 pm October 5 at the Washburn-McReavy Glen Haven Chapel, Crystal MN, with visitation beginning one hour prior. Interment will take place at a later time in Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials preferred to the National Eye Institute nei.nih.gov/about/…. Washburn-McReavy.com Glen Haven Chapel 763-533-8643 5125 W. Broadway, Crystal, MN