Dorothy N. Nelson, "Dottie", a resident of Las Vegas, New Mexico, died on Oct. 13, 2017, following an extended illness Dottie was born on June 16, 1932 in Rice Lake, Barron County, Wisconsin, to Edwin Nelson and Ellen Amundson Nelson. Dottie graduated in 1950 from Eau Claire High School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Following high school, she attended The Kahler Hospitals School of Nursing in Rochester, Minnesota, where she completed nurses training in 1953 and earned her Registered Nurse certification. Soon after, she left the cold climate of Wisconsin, settled in El Paso, Texas, and fell in love with the Southwest.During her time in El Paso, she worked as an operating room nurse at Providence Hospital and Hotel Dieu Hospital. There she met Chris Nelson, Jr., and they married in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1966. They soon relocated to Northern Virginia, where they raised their family. Dottie worked as an operating room nurse at Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia. Upon Chris' retirement in 1981 from the federal government in Washington, D.C., the family moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico.Dottie was employed as an operating room nurse at Northeastern Regional Hospital for twelve years, retiring in 1995. Dottie loved and took great pride in her career as a nurse, and made lifelong friends in the various hospitals where she worked. Dottie was also an avid Washington Redskins fan, likely due to the 15 wonderful years she spent with her family in the Washington, D.C. area.Dottie was preceded in death by her husband Chris in 1992. Also preceding her in death were her father Edwin in 1982, her mother Ellen in 1983, and her sister Lois Shaw in 2011. She is survived by her son Jeff Nelson and wife Bonnie of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and her daughter Suzanne Maestas and husband Dave of Las Vegas, New Mexico. Also surviving her are her stepsons Chris Nelson, III and wife Charlotte of Canon City, Colorado, J. Thomas Nelson and wife Martha of Anchorage, Alaska, Robert D. Nelson and wife Susan of Columbia, Tennessee, and Ben Scott Nelson and wife Patty of Las Vegas, New Mexico. In addition, she is survived by 12 grandchildren: David, Nicholas, Matthew, Jennifer, Katharine, Sandra, Sarah, Emily, Andrew, Amanda, Carl, and Katie; 11 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.Cremation has taken place, and funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. on Oct. 19, 2017 at Immaculate Conception Parish in Las Vegas with Fr. George Salazar as celebrant. Burial of cremains will take place at Masonic Cemetery in Las Vegas. Please visit our website, www.rogersmortuarynm.com to sign the online register book. Arrangements are under the direction of Rogers Mortuary, 600 Reynolds Ave., Las Vegas, NM 1-800-479-3511 or 505-425-3511.