Marvin Nelson
December 8, 1946 ~ December 6, 2017
Marvin Nelson, 70, of Miller, passed away Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at his home.
Visitation was held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Thursday, December 14, 2017 followed by a 1:00 p.m. prayer service, all at Reck Funeral Home, Miller. Burial followed at Hillcrest Cemetery, Miller.
Marvin Arthur Nelson was born on Dec. 8, 1946 to Rex D. and Frieda (Huckfeldt) Nelson in Pierre, SD. He lived near Iron Nation in rural Lyman County and in 1957 he moved with his family to the Seattle area. He attended Mountlake Terrace High School in Mountlake, WA and graduated in 1964.
While growing up, Marvin spent his summers in South Dakota and after graduating high school; he attended Northern State College in Aberdeen. He completed his bachelor’s degree in education in 1970 and went on to teach in Pierre, SD, Milesville, SD and Lower Brule, SD, schools. He joined the Soil Conservation Service in the early ’80s and worked in Lyman, Davison and Hand counties until his retirement in 2007.
Marvin married Micaela Gillaspie on Oct. 21 1972 at St. William’s Catholic Church in Midland, SD. They lived in Pierre, and later Milesville and Mitchell, SD. They had three children, Dan, Mariah and Alex. Marvin moved in Miller in 1992 and they later divorced.
Marvin was a regular blood donor and drove the Disabled American Veterans van to the VA hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. As a long-time Cubs fan, he was thrilled to see his beloved Cubbies win the World Series in 2016. In his free time Marvin loved building his ideal ranch in 1:64th scale in his living room. After retirement Marvin regularly solved the world’s problems with his friends over a cup of coffee at the Ranch Café in Miller.
He is survived by his three children, Dan Nelson of Mitchell, SD; Mariah and Jeremy Oliver of Paullina, IA; and Alex and Courtney Nelson of Hot Springs, SD; five grandchildren; Edie, Ian, and Owen Oliver of Paullina, IA and Hazel and Margaret Nelson of Hot Springs, SD; his brothers, Russell and Terri Nelson of Selah, WA; and William and Maureen Nelson of Monroe, WA; two aunts, Cynthia Fuller of Fort Pierre, SD and Norma Jean Junkman of Camas, WA; and one uncle Calvin Nelson, of Pierre and countless cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Rex D. and Frieda Nelson, one sister, Merrial Thares, of Marshall, MN, and 14 aunts and uncles.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Marvin's arrangements.
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My condolences to the Nelson family
My sincere sympathy to the family of Marvin Nelson.
My sympathies go out to Marvin’s family for their loss.
To the family and Leo Islas, How very sorry we were to learn of Marvins death. We were just getting acquainted, after visiting with he and Leo at the Seniot Dinner a few weeks ago. He will be missed. Please accept our sincere sympathy Harlan and Kathy Meier
So sorry for your loss. Marvin was a true conservationist. Please accept our sincere sympathy.
Dear Cousins, Families–and friends. My heartfelt empathy and compassion for your loss. Death Is Nothing At All By Henry Scott-Holland Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
I am saddened to hear of Marvin‘s passing. He was a special person and I remember him fondly. As a child I was fascinated by the little twinkles in his eyes. As the years passed, I did not see him often. When I did see him, I noticed he never lost the light in his eyes. Now his eyes twinkle with the angels. My thoughts and prayers are with his children, grandchildren and brothers.
Fare thee well, Marvin. Condolences to the family.
Sorry for the loss! Gina Morris ( Christine’s ) daughter … or Christina has she like to say.. The world always feels empty when someone goes away!