David Nelson

David L. Nelson, 79, of Eagle Butte, entered the spirit world Saturday, December 14, 2019 at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital, Pierre.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 20, 2019 at CRST Bingo Hall, Eagle Butte. A celebration of Life was held at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 19, 2019 at the hall. The family invited all who knew and loved Dave to join us after the funeral, please bring a favorite side dish if you wish, and stories to share with family and friends.

David L. Nelson was born on January 8, 1940 in Omaha, NE to Chester and Dorothy Nelson. Dave was raised in Rapid City, South Dakota. During his early childhood, his father owned the racetrack located in the Rapid Valley area and during racing season he spent a lot of time helping and cleaning the tracks.  Dave graduated from Rapid City Central High School in May of 1958.  

Dave was a hardworking man, so the construction life was a perfect fit for him.  In 1958, his chosen profession brought him to Eagle Butte to help construct the old IHS hospital, the Cheyenne Eagle Butte School and the Old Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Offices.  It was during this time that he met the “prettiest girl on the reservation”, whom he vowed he would marry on their first date. And that’s exactly what he did, on July 11, 1960 he married the love of his life , Jacqueline ‘Joni’ Nelson, and to their union they were blessed with four handsome, funny and a ‘little on the wild side’ boys:  DD, Zane, Jason and Jarrod.  Dave and Joni lived in Rapid City after they married until 1963 when they decided to move to Colorado so he could continue perfecting his construction skills.  Later in his career, he made a big decision to start his own construction company which gave him the opportunity to pass his knowledge and skills to his sons, nephews and anyone who wanted to learn the trade.  In 2010, he and Joni made the big move back to Eagle Butte so he could help construct the new IHS hospital. He prided himself on having helped build the old and the new hospital. 

Dave always enjoyed the rodeo life and if he could have, he would have continued on that path.  He made sure all his boys were entered in little britches rodeos. Throughout his life he attended as many rodeos as he could, and it wasn’t very often that he missed any of the CRST Labor Day and Fair Rodeos where he watched his family compete and would reminisce with old friends about their wilder days. One of his proudest rodeo moments was when he rode ‘Bojangles’ at the Clarence Lawrence Ranch in Whitehorse, SD.

Whether he was being called Dad, Uncle or Grandpa, Dave truly enjoyed being around his family. While living in Colorado he enjoyed attending his grandkids’ sporting events.  After he moved to Eagle Butte, he was able to attend sports events for his other grandsons and great nephews who lived here. When he wasn’t able to attend an event, he made sure to at least check in to see how they did.  And once in a while he’d make an appearance at his great-great nephews’ school concerts.

He is survived by his wife and still the prettiest girl on the reservation, Jacqueline “Joni” Nelson; sons:  David D. Nelson (Diane), Zane S. Nelson (Heidi), Jason G. Nelson and Jarrod E. Nelson; grandchildren:  Bryce Nelson (Taylor), Ashley A. Patterson (Ryan), Dalton J. Nelson, Mckenzie Elizabeth-Joyce Nelson, Brodie Nelson, Dillon J. Nelson, and Ciarra G. Nelson; great grandchildren:  Kaylee and Kimimila Nelson and Everley Patterson. 

He was preceded in death by sons: Clinton E. and John L. Nelson;  parents, Chester and Dorothy Nelson; brother, Art Nelson; sister, Jane Hettinger; parents-in-law Jack E. and Jennie E. Hunt; sisters-in-law, Rebecca “Effie” Hunt and Lorraine “Beanie” Raeburn; brothers-in-law: Bill Lake, Martin “Honey” Webb, Collin Campbell, Ken Tiokasin, and Tim Raeburn; good friend, Lyle Ducheneaux;  nephews, Arthur Hettinger, Charles “Charlie” Lake, Shawn Eberhard, Ford Ducheneaux, Blayne Teppo, and Stetson Cavanaugh;  and nieces, Rita Potter and Diane Witt. 

Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte has been entrusted with David’s arrangements.