Rose Nelson hops into 90th birthday in Easter Bunny costume

Rose Nelson loves Easter. 

All through her life, Easter was an opportunity for her household to have a good time their faith, take pleasure in time collectively and put on a brand new, vacation outfit. It’s a time to mirror on what one is grateful for, she stated. 

This yr, Easter falls on Nelson’s ninetieth birthday and she or he, as soon as once more, is celebrating in a brand new outfit. As a substitute of a shiny costume or pastel shirt, Nelson is celebrating in the present day in an Easter Bunny costume, touring to retirement properties across the valley to unfold pleasure and reward Krispy Kreme doughnuts. 

“I wished to spend my birthday going to one of many nursing properties. If my power holds out, I might like to put smiles on folks’s faces,” Nelson stated earlier this week. 

Nelson was born in Eureka and has lived in Montana all of her life, spending time in Kalispell, Whitefish and different locations throughout the valley. 

Her caretaking profession started at 13 years outdated, the place she was a caregiver for a affected person with Alzheimer’s illness. From that time ahead, Nelson has felt drawn to serving to others, particularly the aged. 

She didn’t go to highschool, slightly finding out at a enterprise faculty for 3 months at 16 years outdated. After that, she labored for a Presbyterian church in Kalispell doing communications and shorthand. 

Her profession additionally consisted of being a health care provider’s assistant, a dental assistant and dealing at State Farm. However her favourite jobs, she stated, have been spent with older of us, studying their wealthy histories. 

“There may be historical past there that you simply gained’t discover in historical past books,” Nelson stated. 

Nelson retired at 77 years outdated and has been touring and spending time with household ever since. When her daughter, Morna, requested her how she wished to spend her ninetieth birthday, which occurred to fall on Easter, the reply was easy: purchase a bunny costume and spend time making others smile. 

“I can’t think about a greater approach to encapsulate her 90 years than in a dressing up with doughnuts spreading pleasure,” her daughter, Morna, stated. 

So Easter Sunday is a birthday celebration, however one the place Nelson acknowledges others. If she will be able to instill happiness in folks, particularly on a vacation, it is all price it — and typically doughnuts can assist with that too, she stated with a smile. 

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at [email protected] or 758-4459.