Kristin Ellen Welbaum

Welbaum, Kristin Ellen Nelson Kristin Welbaum, age 83, of Edina, died at home on August 24, 2026, with her loving husband of sixty years, Mike, by her side. Kristin was a keeper of recipes, family organizer and entertainer extraordinaire, and a reliable, trusted, and well-loved friend. Kristin never missed the opportunity to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or holiday. Her legacy is seen and felt in the love, relationships and traditions that she helped organize, nurture and model for her family and friends. Born on May 19, 1943, Kristin spent her early childhood growing up in Chicago with her younger brother Bruce and her parents, Florence (Carlson) and Wendell Nelson. At age 13, Kristin and her family returned to their home area of Minnesota. Kristin enjoyed spending her teenage years in Litchfield, Minnesota where she forged enduring lifelong friendships. Kristin followed in her father's footsteps by studying at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. While at Gustavus, Kristin cultivated more lifelong bonds and earned a nursing degree in 1965. After graduation, she worked in psychiatric care. Kristin met her husband Mike during her senior year of college; They wed in 1966 and celebrated sixty years of marriage this spring. Kristin and Mike were blessed with three children: Katie, Ron, and Gretchen. Kristin enjoyed being a mother and her household management skills were put to good use in supporting Mike's career and their many moves with IBM. Each relocation-from Duluth to Minneapolis to Minnetonka, then to Des Moines, Iowa; back to Minnesota (Wayzata); and lastly to Overland Park, Kansas-was a new house to make a home and a new neighborhood in which to make friends. Like the Girl Scout song, "Make new friends, but keep the old" Kristin kept her family of five connected to extended family and friends through letter writing, annual Christmas cards, and road trips up and down I-35 to see Kristin's parents in Litchfield and Mike's family in south Minneapolis. When her children were older, Kristin re-entered the nursing profession, working for ten years in the field of neonatal care. Kristin loved to swaddle and care for babies. In 1996, Kristin and Mike returned to Minnesota, just in time to enjoy their grandparent era. They welcomed nine grandchildren in twelve years! Being "Mormor" to her grandchildren gave Kristin great happiness. Kristin and Mike lived together on Monardo Lane in Edina for 29 years, their final house to become a home, and a neighborhood in which to make new friends. Kristin enjoyed reading and the friendships made from playing in her bridge groups throughout the years. She was an active member of P.E.O. Chapter CE in Minneapolis and Hope Circle at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church. She loved her bridge, P.E.O. and Circle sisters. She was grateful for her everloving husband, Mike, her family, friends, and the exceptional care she received through Minnesota Oncology. Kristin was preceded in death by her parents, Florence Ethel Carlson Nelson and S. Wendell Nelson. Kristin is survived by her husband, Michael Welbaum; children, Katherine (Marc) Iverson, Ronald (Jennifer) Welbaum, and Gretchen (Tieg) Selberg; grandchildren, Ingrid, Annika and Thor Iverson, Carl, Gustaf and Louise Welbaum, and Berik, Soren and Astri Selberg; and her brother, Bruce (Linda) Nelson. Funeral service will be held at 11AM on Friday, September 4th with visitation one hour prior, all at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, 5025 Knox Ave S., Minneapolis. A reception will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to: P.E.O. Foundation https://peo-portal.com/donations?step=0 Mount Olivet Lutheran Church https://onrealm.org/mtolivet/-/form/give/now

Kristin Ellen Welbaum

May 19, 1943 - August 24, 2026

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