Beatrice "Bea" Ellen (Sheley) Nelson, the daughter of Faye Leonard and Ruth Jeannette (Loomis) Sheley, was born February 18, 1915 in the family farm on the Missouri and Iowa border between Hopkins, MO and Bedford, IA.

Bea lived with her family on the Sheley family farm for the first ten years of her life. She attended elementary school in Hopkins, MO. In good weather she rode her horse the five miles to school. The stable owner would have the horse ready after school for the trip home. During the winter months she stayed in Hopkins with her grandmother. Her family moved to Shenandoah when she was 12 and attended the Shenandoah schools. She graduated from Shenandoah High School in 1933. During her high school years she worked at Woolworths Five and Dime. After graduation she worked for Henry Fields Radio Station, KFNF, in the advertising department.

On November 26, 1936, Beatrice and Axel Linne Nelson were married in the Shenandoah United Methodist Church, where Bea has a been a member since 12 years of age. Into this marriage two daughters were Rebecca (Becky) Ruth and Jeanne Cecelia.

Bea and Linne spent 42 happy years on the farm. After the girls entered school Bea went to work at Mays Seed and Nursery in the IBM department, where she worked for 32 years.

Bea and Linne were charter members of CHB Sunday school class, and members of the Nishna Valley Saddle Club. Bea was secretary for the Shenandoah Quarter Horse Show for many years.

Bea loved going with her family to horse shows, playdays, trail rides and campouts with the saddle club. She often stated those were the best years of her life. She loved attending her grandchildrens sporting events and having Shawn and Stacey come from Colorado to stay in the summer. Bea traveled with friends to Europe and many other bus tours. She also had many vacations with her daughters and families.

Bea did not want to be called great-grandma, because she thought it made her sound old. Her great grand daughter Hope, at a young age began calling her "Bumble Bea." From then on she was called "Bumble Bea" by all ten of her great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Linne, parents, sisters Bonnie Lawrence, Teresa (Kite) Kreir and Betty Shedder and brothers Melford J. Sheley, Sr. and Fred Sheley.

Bea is survived by her daughters Becky McConkey and husband Ron of Ft. Morgan, CO and Jeanne Kocis and husband Don of Essex. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren Shawn McConkey and wife Nancy of Loveland, CO and children Trent McConkey and wife Kait of Thornton, CO and Lindy McConkey of Ft. Collins, CO, Stacey McConkey and daughter Hope of Greeley, CO, Dr. Brent Kocis and wife Beth and children Garrett, Kaitlin and Shannon Kocis of Omaha, NE, Lori Johnson and husband Jeff and children Caden and Trace Johnson of Glenwood, IA, and Hillary Rodewald and husband Alan and children Sidda and Rafe of Shenandoah, sisters Sharon Bacon of Des Moines, IA, Pam Sheley of Guthrie Center, IA and Raynette Baier and husband Ronnie of Guthrie Center, IA and many nieces and nephews.

Celebration of life funeral service will be held 9:30 am, Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church in Shenandoah.

Visitation with the family will be held from 9-9:30 am, Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church in Shenandoah.

Burial will be held at the Essex Cemetery in Essex, Iowa.

Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund.