Early Roots in the American Heartland
I sometimes imagine Armand Gilbert Nelson’s life as a solid bridge connecting South Dakota’s huge prairies to Washington state’s industrial hum. Born in Gary, Deuel County, South Dakota, on February 14, 1901, he entered a world of immigrant aspiration and frontier grit. Julius Theodore Nelson, born in January 1874 and died in 1955, was a Norwegian-born educator, land agent, bank teller, and railway clerk. Daisy May Kee, born December 1876 and died 1953, was a nurse and teacher. On August 8, 1900, in Waseca, Minnesota, they married, starting a family that valued education despite continual relocation.
Armand’s childhood was itinerant. The 1900 and 1905 censuses placed the family in SD. By 1910, they lived in Genesee, Idaho. Around 1915, they moved to Spokane, Washington, where Julius found stable railway work. Young Armand might absorb the rhythm of trains and the promise of steadiness in this developing city. According to the 1920 census, his younger brother Leslie Theodore Nelson, born in South Dakota in 1906, shared those formative Spokane years.
Education helped him rise. In an era when industrial hopefuls rarely attended college, Armand graduated from Stanford University from North Central High School in Spokane. This foundation launched his career alongside the nation’s economy.
Marriage and Building a Family Foundation
In the late 1920s, Armand’s life intertwined with Vera Margaret Spindler, born December 30, 1906, in Spokane to Frederick Charles Spindler. She was a dancer, bringing a touch of grace to his structured world. They married on April 4, 1928, in Helena, Montana, a union that would endure for 37 years until his death. By the 1930 U.S. Census, they lived in Pondera County, Montana, near the Canadian border, where Armand worked as a production foreman in the oil industry, and Vera as a typist in the same field.
Their family grew steadily. Daughter Dayle Joyce Nelson arrived on June 28, 1934, in Spokane. She would later embody civic spirit, graduating from Lewis and Clark High School and attending Washington State University. Dayle married Robert Milton Cole on June 19, 1954, in Spokane. Their life ventured abroad: two years in California, five in Bonn, Germany, where Robert worked for Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp. In Bonn, Dayle organized wives of civilian employees and liaised with the American Embassy. Back in Spokane Valley, she co-founded Opportunity Independent Kindergarten, served on the Youth Alternatives board (now Youth Help Association), and led in the League of Women Voters and Spokane Valley Women’s Republican Club. Tragically, she succumbed to cancer at 48 on August 24, 1982, leaving a legacy of community leadership. She rests at The Pines Cemetery in Spokane Valley.
Then came son Craig Theodore Nelson, born April 4, 1944, in Spokane. Craig’s path diverged into the spotlight, becoming the acclaimed actor known for roles in Coach, Poltergeist, The Incredibles, and Parenthood. He attended Lewis and Clark High School and pursued drama, crediting his parents’ stability for his artistic freedom. Craig’s first marriage to Robin McCarthy from 1965 to 1978 produced three children: Tiffany Nelson in 1966, Christopher Nelson in 1968, and Noah Nelson in 1975. His second marriage to Doria Cook in 1987 brought no additional children, but by 2018, he boasted eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The family web extended through grandchildren. From Dayle and Robert: Robert Cole Jr. and Cheryl Lynn Cole, who married Michael Barkdull; both Spokane residents in 1982. Dayle’s 1982 obituary noted one great-grandson. Armand’s 1965 obituary listed two grandchildren from Dayle, while Vera’s 1971 passing recorded four total. This growing clan, like branches from a resilient oak, spread across generations, tying back to Spokane’s soil.
Career Climb in Industry’s Forge
Armand’s career ran smoothly. In the 1930 census, he was a Montana oil production foreman. After two years of education, he became an oil field manager in Spokane by 1940. He moved to Kaiser Aluminum in Spokane in the 1940s and 1950s and became shipping superintendent, managing aluminum production logistics during wartime and postwar booms. After 40 years in industry, emphysema forced him to retire in 1961.
His son-in-law Robert Cole worked for Kaiser. A personal boost? Bing Crosby’s Spokane high school band drummer Armand played a young melody before business took him. St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, later St. Andrew’s, was his and Vera’s community hub. They lived at W427 28th Avenue in Spokane for decades.
Armand died of emphysema in a Spokane hospital on July 9, 1965, at 64. Rev. Thomas W. Howarth of St. Andrew’s held private services at Smith’s on July 11, 1965, followed by interment at Fairmount Memorial Park, Lawn 21, Lot 201, Space 1a. After her cancer death at 64 on August 26, 1971, Vera joined him. Obituaries described their modest success in Spokane over 50 years.
Migration and Intergenerational Ties
The Nelson family’s trek from Norwegian roots in Wisconsin and Minnesota to South Dakota, Idaho, Montana, and Washington mirrored broader 19th and 20th-century American waves. Armand’s Stanford degree fueled upward mobility, enabling Craig’s Hollywood pursuits and Dayle’s civic roles. Intergenerational links to Kaiser Aluminum bound them, a thread of industrial continuity.
I see Armand as the keel of a ship, steadying the family through economic shifts. His retirement in 1961, after 50 years in Spokane since 1915, marked the end of an era. Yet, his legacy persists in descendants’ diverse paths.
FAQ
Who was Armand Gilbert Nelson’s famous son?
Craig Theodore Nelson, born in 1944, carved a stellar acting career. He starred in over 50 films and TV shows, earning acclaim for his versatile roles. His early Spokane upbringing, supported by Armand’s steady income, allowed him to explore drama without financial worry.
What was Armand’s connection to Bing Crosby?
As a high schooler in Spokane, Armand drummed in Bing Crosby’s band. This brief musical stint added a cultural note to his otherwise industrial life, a hidden rhythm beneath his professional facade.
How did illness affect the Nelson family?
Emphysema forced Armand’s 1961 retirement and led to his 1965 death at 64. Vera battled cancer, passing in 1971 at 64. Dayle also died of cancer in 1982 at 48. These health struggles, common in industrial families, tested their resilience yet didn’t dim their contributions.
What civic roles did Dayle Joyce Nelson Cole play?
Dayle excelled in community service. She organized in Bonn, founded a kindergarten in Spokane Valley, boarded Youth Alternatives, chaired juvenile court committees, and led in the League of Women Voters and Republican Club. Her efforts touched education, youth aid, and politics over 28 years.
How many grandchildren did Armand have?
Records show at least six: from Dayle, Robert Jr. and Cheryl Lynn; from Craig, Tiffany, Christopher, and Noah. By 1971, four were noted; later reports expanded the count, reflecting a thriving family tree.
