Betty Ruth (Dawson) Nelson, age 95, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2025 at her home in Solon, Ohio. She was born on March 15, 1930, to the late Jack and Georgia (Kelley) Dawson, in Calhoun County, WV. After graduating from Calhoun County High School when she was 15 years old, she moved to Marietta, OH, began working at the college there, and met her husband, Herb Nelson. They were married on August 26, 1948, then moved to Bowling Green, OH in 1950, and to the Cleveland area in 1952. They purchased a house in Solon in 1954, which she called home the remainder of her life.
Betty was widowed in 2002, after 54 years of marriage to Herb. She was also preceded in death by all of Herb’s siblings; by her son-in-law, Lloyd Haase; as well as by all of her siblings: brother, James Lewis Dawson, and sisters, Louie Pearl Snider, Leota “Jo” Hall, Launa “Eddie” Law, Glenna Wilson, and Mary Belle Dawson. She is survived by her daughter Diana Nelson Haase, by her brother-in-law Darl Wilson; and by many loving nieces, nephews, and great- and great-great nieces and nephews.
A member of the Streetsboro Church of Christ for over 50 years, one of Betty’s main desires was to help others, whether by an encouraging word, by a thoughtful action, or by the many volunteer efforts with which she was involved. She loved God, and she loved her neighbors, and purposefully tried to serve all with the best of her abilities. In recent years, she was very active in the Solon Senior Center, participating in many volunteer efforts, including the Act II Singers and the Knitting group.
Over the years, she held various administrative positions; however, her most satisfying position was as a stay-at-home-mom while Diana was growing up, becoming involved in Scouting and many school activities. Later on, she worked many years at – and retired from — the North Coast Container Corporation as a steel purchasing agent.
She loved nature – and loved to travel. From her well-manicured flower gardens to local metropolitan parks, and from the beautiful West Virginia countryside where she grew up to the pristine Canadian landscape where she and Herb often vacationed, to other scenic points all across the land, she enjoyed experiencing God’s creation everywhere.
Visitation times were held at Steinbauer Funeral Home, 33375 Bainbridge Road, Solon. Even though it appears Bainbridge Road is closed, you may navigate through the signs, but only from the west this particular week. A celebration of life was held Wednesday, September 3, with burial immediately following in Roselawn Cemetery, 32725 Solon Rd, Solon.
