Dustin 'Dusty' Gene Nelson, 37

On Dec. 21, 2013, Dustin “Dusty” Gene Nelson unexpectedly “went to be with the Lord.”

Dusty was born March 16, 1976, in Billings, to Terry and Terrie (Anderson) Nelson. Dusty lived his early years in the Billings area with his parents and older brother Shane. He also had many aunts, uncles and cousins close by. The family moved to Columbia Falls in 1982 where Dusty graduated high school in 1994. In August 1986, Dusty’s father passed away.

Growing up, Dusty loved to ride his ATV with Shane and friends. He also worked at The Old River Bridge Inn where he started learning to cook like a chef. As a kid, Dusty spent many summers with his extended family in Laurel where he attended summer Bible school and accepted the Lord as his personal savior. He loved attending family reunions and travel with his mom and stepfather. Dusty’s first car was a 1962 Corvair that almost took off his little finger in the fan belt.

As a young adult, Dusty moved to Laurel working many odd jobs, making lots of great friends and eventually becoming an accomplished concrete finisher. Dusty found his true calling as a hard rock miner. He mined for Stillwater Mining Company for over a decade. Dusty then took his skill and knowledge to aid in the development of a mine in Guatemala for a few months. The last couple of years he worked in Elko, Nev., for JS Red Path Mining Company.

After an 11-year marriage with Teresa Trevino, raising their daughter Brianna, he filled his days surrounding himself with several loves in his life. The first and foremost was the love for his family and friends whom he considered family. Dusty always had a special heart for kids, especially his daughter, grandson Karuz, and nieces Nakayla, Alyssa and Zoey.

The first thing on meeting Dusty you would notice was his infectious smile and the brilliant blue eyes that even the guys would comment on. Dusty loved fishing and shared that love with friends Charlie White, Travis Harr, Uncle Gary Anderson, nieces Alyssa and anyone else who wanted to go along. Dusty was well loved and highly respected by his friends and fellow hard rock miners.

Dusty was preceded in death by his father, Terry Nelson; grandmothers, Phyllis Taylor Darling and Lillian Nelson; grandfather, Jesse Nelson; and cousins, Misty Anderson and Jake Burgener.

Dusty is “now forever watching over” his mother and stepfather, Terrie and Dan Blomquist; brother, Shane Nelson; nieces, Nakayla Kline, Alyssa Nelson and Zoey Harr; daughter, Brianna Bonilla; and grandson, Karoz Thongsavath; plus numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, dear friends and mine brothers, all of whom had a special place in Dusty’s heart.

In lieu of flowers there has been a college fund established for Dusty’s nieces at Stockman Bank. Please send contributions to Stockman Bank Attn: Dustin Nelson Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 80850, Billings, MT 59108.

A celebration of Dusty’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at Deer Park School on Middle Road in Columbia Falls. A reception will follow.