Lola Ruth Nelson, 86, of Ollie, passed away on Monday, June 15, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lola was born at her parents' home in Brighton, Iowa on September 23, 1933, to (Edwin) Floyd and Leona (Snider) Faris. She was raised in Brighton and graduated from Brighton High School in 1951. She attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She was married to James Keith Nelson at the Methodist Church in Cameron, Missouri on April 12, 1952. They had a double wedding ceremony with their good friends, Jim Stull and Beatrice Nash. The couple lived in various places until settling at their home in Ollie, Iowa in 1961, where they have remained.

Lola was a homemaker and a friend to all she knew. She was a terrific conversationalist, storyteller and historian. Lola was a gifted cook, seamstress and gardener and possibly the best greeting card sender who ever lived. She was appreciated for her good advice and sense of humor. Lola was involved in 4H in her youth. A devoted churchgoer her entire life, she was initially raised Presbyterian. Upon moving to Ollie, she was an active member of the Ollie United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School and served on many committees. In later years, she attended the Ollie Baptist Church. In the past, Lola was a member of the Ollie Betterment Committee and planner of the Ollie Big Days talent show. An avid Democrat, she enjoyed politics and enjoyed attending political rallies of presidential candidates. She served as an election worker in Ollie for many years.

Lola is survived by her husband of 68 years, Keith Nelson; her daughter and son-in-law, Anne and Brian Van Der Sloot and her cherished granddaughters, Ashley and Emily Van Der Sloot, all of Center Point; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Karen and Richard Williams of Ollie; niece, Kathy Ryan and family of Ankeny, and nephews, Jim Williams of Sigourney and Lewis Faris of Davenport. She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter, Phyllis Nelson, in 2014, her brothers Ben Faris and Bill Faris, and sister-in-law Louise Faris. Lola's family would like to express their appreciation for the outreach of love from her friends and family during her brief illness and to especially thank Lola's dearest friends, Beatrice Stull and Nancy Connelly for their tremendous support.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Burial will be at the Ollie Cemetery. Memorials may be made in her honor to an organization of the donor's choice or mailed to her daughter, Anne Van Der Sloot 804 Maplewood Drive, Center Point, Iowa 52213, to be donated at a later time. Gould Funeral Home of Richland is in charge of arrangements.