Brenda L. Nelson, 53, of Parsons died at 4:57 a.m. Sunday, June 12, 2011, at Labette Health. She died after her long, courageous battle with cancer.

She was born on June 2, 1958, at Chanute to William and Virginia (Cobb) Mendenhall. She grew up at Chanute, Webb City, Mo., and Parsons. She attended grade school at Chanute and Webb City and then junior high and high school at Parsons, graduating from Parsons High School in 1976. She attended Labette Community College and graduated from Bauder Fashion College at Arlington, Texas. She returned to Parsons where she worked at Par Forms printing for 30 years as the office manager.

She married Dan Nelson on May 2, 1981, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Parsons. He survives of the home.

She enjoyed shopping, traveling, "girls night" with her friends, but, most of all, she cherished her family and friends. She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Epsilon Nu Sorority.

In addition to her husband, Dan, she is survived by, her son, Adam Nelson of Parsons; her daughter, Amanda Blackburn and her husband, Derek, of Parsons; a brother, Steve Cobb and his wife, Cindy, of Katy, Texas; three sisters, Carolyn Nicewaner of Chanute, Rita Aikins of Parsons and Kathy Lindblad of Arlington, Texas; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Kermit and Dorothy Nelson of Parsons; her brother-in-law, Tim Nelson and his wife, Kristi, of Parsons; her sister-in-law, Beth Eckley and her husband, Alan, of Lenexa; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers-in-law, Gene Nicewaner and Paul "Junior" Lindblad.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. today at the church. The family will receive friends following the rosary in the parish hall.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Patrick's Catholic Church and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.