Nelson was born on September 9, 1924, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Floss Edna (née Anderson; 1893–1983) … 展开

Nelson served a two-year term of duty in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Korean War, and was stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. While on duty, he was assigned to a research group f… 展开

In addition to his medical work, Nelson served frequently as a leader in the LDS Church. In Minnesota, he served as what was then known as Sunday School Superintendent in his local congregation. In Washington DC, … 展开

While a student at the University of Utah, Nelson met and began dating fellow Utah student Dantzel White (1926–2005). They dated for three years, then married on August 31, 1945, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they ha… 展开

• President of the Thoracic Surgical Directors Association
• President of the Society for Vascular Surgery (1975)
• President of the Utah State Medical Association … 展开

Books
• Nelson, Russell M. (1979), From Heart to Heart: An Autobiography, Nelson, OCLC 6144971
• —— (1987), Motherhood, Deseret Book, ISBN 978-0-87579-087-9, OCLC 20469710… 展开