Norman R. ‘Pop’ Nelson; Business Owner

Norman R. “Pop” Nelson, longtime former owner of an Oak View hardware and building supply store, died at Acacias Care Center in Ojai on Saturday after a short illness. He was 89.

He was born Oct. 26, 1906, in Valley City, N.D.

Nelson moved to the Ojai Valley 35 years ago from the San Fernando Valley and opened Builders Mart, a hardware and building materials retail store.

He operated the store for almost a decade with two of his sons before retiring.

Nelson also was active in such fraternity groups as the Masonic Lodge and Moose Lodge No. 1417, which he helped found in 1960.

In retirement, he and his wife, Susie, enjoyed traveling in their trailer, especially to the Rogue Valley of southern Oregon and to Minnesota.

“He did love fishing,” said his daughter-in-law, Hazel Nelson.

In addition to his wife, survivors include sister Myrtle Christenson of Paso Robles, sons and daughters-in-law Duane and Hazel Nelson of Oak View, and Gary and Barbara Nelson and Wayne and Marilyn Nelson of Grants Pass, Ore.; daughters and sons-in-law Marilyn and Marvin Josephson of San Diego and Judy and Gene Tennis of Bakersfield as well as 15 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren. Visitation is scheduled from noon to 8 p.m. today and Thursday at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Services will be held 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with Pastor Kurt Christenson officiating. Interment will follow at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarillo.

Memorial contributions may be made to Moose Lodge No. 1417.

Ventura County obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. Obituaries are based on information provided by mortuaries.