Lorraine Denise "Lori" Nilson

Lorraine Denise “Lori” Nilson, 68, of Scotia, died peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, at her home in Scotia.

Lori chose to have her body cremated with no public services.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

Lori was born on Dec. 31, 1957, in Compton, California, the daughter of Billy and Helen (McDaniel) Horsley. She grew up in California, where she received her education and graduated from Norco High School.

She served in the United States Navy from 1979 to 1980. She always said that the birth of her daughter, Melissa, was a parting gift from the Navy. She later was blessed with a son, Chaz.

The family mainly resided in Central Nebraska. Over the years, she worked as a taxi driver in Fort Collins, Colorado, and for BonnaVilla Homes in Aurora, Nebraska, and Sandy Ridge Feedlot in Fullerton, Nebraska.

Lori loved spending time with her family and going deer hunting and coyote hunting, using coyote hounds, with her children and grandchildren. She also loved farm life and had a special fondness for cattle, horses, and dogs.

She is survived by her mother, Helen Horsley of Fort Collins; children and spouses, Melissa Horsley and Justin Butzke of Scotia and Chaz and Haley Johnson of Randolph; eight grandchildren, Tristan Horsley, Hunter and Kaitlin Horsley, Angelina Horsley, Austin Johnson, Braytin Johnson, Soma Johnson, Spade Johnson, and Kyote Johnson; five great-grandchildren, Maverick, Kolton, Jordyn, Sutton, and Raylan; brothers, Jeff Horsley of Fort Collins and Douglas and Tina Horsley of Germany; and one sister, Pam and Jeff Newman of Canyon, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her father.