Nova Emily Nelson, 88, of Sweet Home, Oregon passed away Wednesday, April 29. She was born in Twin Falls, Idaho to Irven Elihue and Nora Ellen (Barker) Howell.

Nova Emily Nelson was born in Twin Falls, Idaho as Nova Emily Howell and at a young age she moved with her parents and older brother to Pleasant Valley, Idaho. When she was eight years old, the family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where Nova graduated from Las Vegas High. When Nova was 18, her family moved to Fallon, Nevada where they lived on a farm for one year, then they moved back to Las Vegas.

In 1950, Nova married Richard Joseph Dillman. In 1955, Richard and Nova separated.

In 1960, Nova married Raymond John Nelson. She and her four children plus Raymond became a family of six. Two more children were born making a family of eight.

Over the years, Nova and Raymond lived in several places, including: Afton, Wyoming; Kuna and Meridian, Idaho; and Prairie City, Sweet Home, and Bend, Oregon.

Nova worked most of her life as a PBX operator at Bell Telephone in Las Vegas, at St. Charles Hospital in Bend, Oregon, and for twenty years at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital in Las Vegas, which later became University Medical Center.

She is survived by her children, Laura of North Bend, Stephen of Pahrump, Nevada, Roseanna of Sweet Home, Dean of Provo, Utah, Marilyn of Vashon, Washington, and John of Sweet Home; younger brother Irven; 15 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

Nova is preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Nelson; her parents; her brother, Elihue; and sister, Nomia.

Viewing will be from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Monday, May 4, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Graveside service will be at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 5, at Pilot Butte Cemetery in Bend.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.