Alvina (Dirks) Nelson was born on January 16, 1924, to Abraham and Anna (Buller) Dirks at their farm home near Buhler, Kansas, and she passed November 6, 2022, in Salina, Kansas.

She graduated from Buhler High School in 1941 and McPherson College in 1945. On August 29, 1948, she married Harold Nelson. She taught elementary school in Salina, and retired in 1984. In her retirement, she followed her passion and became an avid quilter and was a charter member of Silver Needles. She quilted for family and friends and her hand quilting can be seen in several published books by Nancy Martin, a nationally known quilter and writer.

She is survived by her children Ron Nelson and wife Joyce and Doreen McDowell; grandchildren Heather Wagoner and husband Jared, Stephanie McDowell and husband Derek Belton, Brian Nelson, and Kevin Nelson; and great-grandchildren Lauren Wagoner and Rachel Nelson. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers, Art Dirks and Harry Dirks, and son-in-law, Steve McDowell.

The funeral will be at 1:30 pm, Monday, November 14, 2022, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Salina. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or McPherson College, in care of Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home, 500 S. Ohio St., Salina, Kansas 67401.