Russell M. Nelson Biography: Age, Real Name, Career, Education, Religion, Parents, Siblings, Wife, Relationship, Children, Nationality, Death

Russell Marion Nelson Sr. (September 9, 1924 – September 27, 2025) was an American religious leader, heart surgeon, and educator. He served as the 17th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 2018 until his death in 2025. As president of the church, Russell M. Nelson was regarded as a prophet, seer, and revelator.

Early Life and Education

Russell M. Nelson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on September 9, 1924, to Marion Clavar Nelson and Floss Edna Anderson. He grew up with three siblings. Although his parents were not active in the church, he was baptized at age 16. Nelson graduated from high school at 16 and studied at the University of Utah, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1945 and a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1947 at just 22 years old. He later received a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, where he helped develop the first heart-lung machine used for open-heart surgery.

Medical Career

During the Korean War, Russell M. Nelson served as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Afterward, he became a professor of surgery at the University of Utah and built his own heart-lung bypass machine. He performed many pioneering heart surgeries, including some of the first successful operations on children and adults with severe heart problems. Over his career, he performed nearly 7,000 operations and became well known in the medical field, serving as president of the Utah Medical Association and the Society for Vascular Surgery.

Service in the LDS Church

Alongside his medical career, Russell M. Nelson served in many church leadership roles. From 1971 to 1979, he was the General President of the LDS Church Sunday School. In 1984, he was called as an apostle by church president Spencer W. Kimball. He served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for over 30 years, becoming its president in 2015.

When church president Thomas S. Monson died in 2018, Russell M. Nelson became the 17th president of the LDS Church. During his leadership, he traveled widely, met world leaders, and announced the construction of many new temples around the world.

Personal Life

Russell M. Nelson married Dantzel White in 1945, and together they had ten children, though two passed away before him. After Dantzel’s death in 2005, Russell M. Nelson married Wendy L. Watson, a professor, in 2006.

Later Years and Death

Russell M. Nelson became the oldest president in church history, living to 101 years old. He celebrated his 100th birthday in 2024 with worldwide recognition. He passed away on September 27, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Parents

Russell M. Nelson’s parents were Marion Clavar Nelson (1897–1990) and Floss Edna Anderson (1893–1983). His father worked as a reporter for the Deseret News and later became the general manager of Utah’s first advertising agency, Gillham Advertising. His parents were not active in the LDS Church while he was young, but they encouraged him to attend Sunday School.

Siblings

Russell M. Nelson had three siblings: two sisters, Marjory E. Nelson (1920–2016) and Enid Nelson (1926–2019), and one brother, Robert H. Nelson (1931–2014).

Height

Russell M. Nelson exact height is not publicly recorded, but he was described as tall with a slim build.

Wives

1. Dantzel White Nelson (1926–2005) – Married in 1945 and were together for 60 years until her death.
2. Wendy L. Watson Nelson (born 1950) – Married in 2006. She was a professor of marriage and family therapy at Brigham Young University.

Children

Russell M. Nelson had 10 children (9 daughters and 1 son). Their names are:

• Marsha
• Wendy (1951–2019)
• Gloria
• Brenda
• Sylvia
• Emily (1958–1995)
• Laurie
• Rosalie
• Marjorie
• Russell M. Nelson Jr. (born 1972)

Two of his daughters, Wendy and Emily, passed away before him.

Nationality

Russell M. Nelson was American.

Ethnicity

Russell M. Nelson was of European descent (White/Caucasian).

Russell M. Nelson – FAQs

1. What is Russell M. Nelson real name?

- Russell M. Nelson full name is Russell Marion Nelson Sr.

2. When was Russell M. Nelson born?

- Russell M. Nelson was born on September 9, 1924, in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

3. How old was Russell M. Nelson when he died?

- Russell M. Nelson was 101 years old when he died on September 27, 2025.

4. What was Russell M. Nelson nationality?

- Russell M. Nelson was American.

5. What was his ethnicity?

- Russell M. Nelson was of European descent (White/Caucasian).

6. Who were his parents?

- Russell M. Nelson parents were Marion Clavar Nelson and Floss Edna Anderson.

7. Did Russell M. Nelson have siblings?

- Yes. Russell M. Nelson had three siblings: Marjory, Enid, and Robert.

8. Was Russell M. Nelson married?

- Yes. Russell M. Nelson married Dantzel White in 1945 (she died in 2005), and later married Wendy L. Watson in 2006.

9. How many children did Russell M. Nelson have?

- Russell M. Nelson had 10 children (9 daughters and 1 son). Two of his daughters, Wendy and Emily, passed away.

10. What was Russell M. Nelson’s career?

- Russell M. Nelson was a world-famous heart surgeon and later became a religious leader as the 17th president of the LDS Church.

11. What was his education background?

- Russell M. Nelson studied at the University of Utah (Bachelor’s and Doctor of Medicine) and later earned a Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota.

12. What religion did Russell M. Nelson belong to?

- Russell M. Nelson was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), also known as the Mormon Church.

13. Did Russell M. Nelson appear on TV shows?

- No, Russell M. Nelson was not a TV celebrity. He appeared mostly in church broadcasts, interviews, and documentaries about his life and work.

14. What was Russell M. Nelson’s net worth?

- Russell M. Nelson exact net worth is not publicly known, but as a surgeon and church leader, he lived comfortably and devoted much of his life to service.

15. What is Russell M. Nelson best known for?

- Russell M. Nelson is best known for being a pioneering heart surgeon and the 17th president of the LDS Church, serving from 2018 to 2025.

About the Author

Praise Graciebby is a content creator on Essie Book Blog, where she writes celebrity biographies, sports updates, gossip, and trending news. With a passion for entertainment and lifestyle journalism, Praise provides readers with simple, accurate, and up-to-date profiles of public figures worldwide.

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