Brandon Heath Nelson, 38
On Monday Jan. 28, 2019, Brandon left us suddenly and all too soon after a vehicle accident in Bigfork. His beloved blue heeler/border collie mix Sheba and her young puppy Rojo followed him over the Rainbow Bridge.
Brandon was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, on July 25, 1980, to Teresa Snyder Nelson and Ron Nelson. He was raised in the Dakotas, Alaska and Nebraska before finally settling in Kalispell where he attended Flathead High School, graduating in 1998. Right out of high school he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force to serve our country and was honorably discharged in 2002.
Brandon was involved in many community activities, especially those that benefited our veterans. He served as VFW past junior vice commander, was a Veterans Pantry volunteer, was involved in the VFW Sunday morning breakfast benefiting the Flathead Warriors Fund.
He also worked with the Flathead Bike Club, Project Homeless Connect and the annual “Bring Out Your Mom” bike ride on Mother’s Day.
Brandon’s mom often described him as a “burnt marshmallow,” crusty on the outside and sweet and squishy on the inside. He was kind, helpful and considerate and always happy to help out friends and strangers.
He loved to be silly with kids, quoting Shel Silverstein, reeling off spoonerisms and great puns or play knock-knock jokes with his nieces all day long. He was a stickler for grammar, loved poetry, especially Edgar Allan Poe and often wrote his own poetry.
Brandon appreciated the rugged Montana outdoors introducing (dragging/encouraging) others to enjoy it as well. He was an excellent teacher for young and old alike.
In 2017, he was blessed with the joy of his life, his beautiful daughter, Charlotte Quinn Nelson. He cherished every moment he was able to spend with her and loved her beyond words.
Brandon was preceded in death by his stepfather Ray Bilile.
In addition to his daughter, left to mourn him are his mother Tere Nelson of Bigfork, his father Ron Nelson of Minnesota, his brother and best friend Trevor Nelson, his stepbrother Corey Bilile, his nieces Lyric Nelson and Phoenix Nelson, and his “brothers (and sister) by other mothers” Bo Helm, Sean O’Neill, Skippy Yelinik, Matt Thomas and Heather Petzak.
A memorial will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, Feb. 17, during the “3rd Sunday Morning Breakfast,” a Brandon tradition to benefit the Flathead Warrior Project, at the Kalispell VFW. A celebration of life will follow at 1 p.m. The Kalispell VFW is located at 330 First Ave. W., in Kalispell.
Memorials in Brandon’s honor may be made to the Veterans Pantry and the VFW. (Buying drinks at the bar doesn’t count.) As Brandon would say “Be so it!”
Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.