August 8, 1947 – March 24, 2017

Phillip (Butch) Nelson passed away March 24, 2017, after a brief illness. He was born and died in his home of 69 years at the end of Nelson Road.

By himself, at the age of 9, Butch killed his first deer behind the house, which was the beginning of his illustrious hunting career. At 17, he went to Alaska to work at his brother, Leo Nelson Jr’s, logging camp.

While in Alaska, he joined the National Guard. Back in Forks, he worked in the woods. He said the two things he always wanted to do from childhood was to hunt and fall trees. He loved his hounds and sometimes hunted them 18 at a time.

In 1970, he married Bonnie Crisp Corbin who had two sons, Mark and Brett Corbin. Together, Butch and Bonnie had two children, Rebecca and Scott.

He had 8 grandchildren and enjoyed taking them fishing and hunting, teaching them to shoot the bow and many other things, such as making interesting leather necklaces with elk teeth or cougar claws as pendants. He was involved in so many things it’s difficult to give him all credit due.

He was a strong and accomplished man.

Butch is survived by his wife, Bonnie, his children, Rebecca and Scott, his sister, Gladys Nelson Allen and her three children, Cheryl Moody, Randy Allen, Bruce Allen, and 8 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Ida Nelson, his brother, Leo Nelson Jr. (Gloria), and his stepsons Mark and Brett Corbin.

Due to his request, there will be no service.