LYNN NELSON, LOTTERY PIONEER PASSES
Lynn R. "Swede" Nelson, retired, longtime director of the
Pennsylvania State Lottery, passed away on April 12 following complications from heart surgery. His wife Doris, son Ray, daughter Diann, seven grandchildren, other family members and their minister were at his side.
Lynn's tenure and involvement in the lottery industry saw the advent of both instant and on-line games, the earliest of TV advertising campaigns and expansion of the National Association of State Lotteries (NASL, now NASPL), of which he served as president at the time, to include international lottery participation.
His dedication to the emerging business of lottery, the development of accounting and security techniques, and insight into the minds of the lottery consumers, made his contributions to the multibillion dollar Pennsylvania Lottery a proud legacy.
Lynn was regarded as one of the smartest people in the lottery industry and was widely respected by his peers. After retiring from the lottery, Lynn became County Controller in the county where he lived, a position from which he retired two years ago. He is remembered for his humor, his love of golf and his many friendships. He was always supportive of his friends and saw many of us through good times and bad. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
SERVICES
The viewing will be Tuesday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Rohand Funeral Home, Cumberland St., Lebanon, Pa. The service will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church, North 9th St., Lebanon, Pa. Internment will be at Fort Indiantown Gap.
An alternative to sending flowers is to make a donation to Domestic Violence, Inc., Box 42, Lebanon, Pa., 17402, a nonprofit, service organization that Doris and Lynn have supported for many years.