When Mike Larsen learned he only had months to live, he put the fate of countless students in the hands of a Bemidji State University graduate.
Mike entrusted his estate to his best friends, Paul and Stella Nelson, and charged them with giving it away to the charity of their choice. But the Nelsons wanted Mike to be in on the decision too, so they collectively arranged to establish a nursing endowment at BSU in all three of their names. The endowment not only reduces financial barriers for nursing graduates but also empowers the department’s faculty to enhance their students’ overall educational experience.
“It’s something we wanted to have for all nursing students,” said Stella, a 1986 Bemidji State alumna. “Regardless of their financial status, or a special application, none of that. If you’re graduating, you need to take the (licensure exam), so it gets paid, period. Everybody gets the gift.”
The story behind the endowment is as extraordinary as the donation itself.
Mike and Paul shared a lifelong bond, a friendship that began in kindergarten and grew so strong it was “closer than most brothers,” as Stella described. They became each other’s chosen family, a kinship that eventually extended to include Stella, Paul’s wife.
Upon Mike’s terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis, the Nelsons immediately stepped in. Paul moved into Mike’s home to provide care during his final weeks, while Stella, a retired surgical nurse with 22 years of service at Bemidji Clinic (now Sanford Health), managed his medical care.
Inspired by their unwavering support and Stella’s quiet acts of philanthropy over the years, Mike made a life-changing decision.
Though Mike had already released his estate into the Nelsons’ care, he hadn’t settled on a specific cause to support.
About two weeks before he died in March 2024, Paul asked him one final time which charity he had in mind.
Mike smiled and replied, “How about ‘The Stella M. Nelson and Mike E. Larsen Endowment for Nursing?'”
Stella ultimately insisted that Paul’s name also be on the endowment because she wouldn’t have gotten to know Mike if not for him. So, officially, all three of them are collectively stewarding the next generation of nurses through the Stella M. & Paul F. Nelson/Michael E. Larson Nursing Endowment.
Faculty members have been deeply moved by the generosity of Mike and the Nelsons, and now the nursing program and its students are reaping the rewards.
“When I think of Stella Nelson, I smile. She is inspirational,” said nursing professor Marci Maple. “She has an unwavering passion for the profession of nursing. Stella is a visionary who takes action. She and Paul believe in Bemidji State University, in BSU Nursing, and in the unique talents, abilities and gifts of each student.”
The early results speak for themselves: Last year, 100% of BSU nursing graduates passed the NCLEX on their first try, underscoring the program’s reputation for excellence.
As more and more Bemidji State nurses enter the workforce, Stella hopes the gift will inspire a culture of giving among BSU alumni and friends.
“For those who don’t need the financial support, maybe it’ll encourage them to think, ‘What can I do to give back?'” Stella said. “And for those who do need it, it’ll make all the difference.”
By Stella Dolan