About 35 community members came out to celebrate the expansion and improvements to the Lutsen cemetery, including (L-R) land donor George Nelson, community elder Willard Nelson, and land donor Scott Harrison.
An unusual celebration was held on Tuesday, August 25, 2009. About 35 Lutsen community members met at the Lutsen cemetery for a trout feed/potluck to celebrate the collaborative effort that resulted in the enlarged and enhanced town cemetery.
Lutsen Cemetery Association board member Dick Nelson reported that the celebration was held to recognize the generosity of donors who brought the cemetery expansion to fruition. Nelson said the community wished to thank George “Bub” Nelson and his daughter, Cindy Nelson, and Scott Harrison for donating land used for the expansion.
The Cemetery Association also invited representatives from KGM Contractors, which provided several thousand yards of fill material from its Lutsen Ski Hill Road project. KGM Contractors also assisted with the cemetery expansion storm water management plan and after grubbing and clearing, charged equipment time only for excavation and terracing of the cemetery property.
“KGM did an amazing, amazing job,” said Dick Nelson. “The difference is just incredible. It is a beautiful cemeter y.”
Before and after! Top: The land adjacent to the Lutsen Cemetery was not suitable for a cemetery before a generous donation of fill material and work by KGM Contractors. Above: Once the land was donated to the Lutsen Cemetery Association by George and Cindy Nelson and Scott Harrison, the site was cleared, fill material was brought in, and boulders were moved to terrace the land, which was seeded and mulched.
The cemetery abuts the Superior National at Lutsen Golf Course and allows approximately 180 new gravesites. It is an accomplishment the Lutsen community can be proud of, said Dick Nelson. He added that everyone enjoyed the trout feed. “We were dancing on the graves,” he joked.
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