Funeral services for Gerald Dean "Jerry" Nelson, 70, of Bison, SD will be Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the American Lutheran Church in Bison. Rev. Marjorie Hershey will officate and burial will follow at the Date Cemetery southwest of Bison. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8th at the American Lutheran Church followed by a gathering of Family and Friends at 7:00 p.m.

Gerald Dean "Jerry" Nelson was born on July 8, 1939 to Earl and Irine (Rue) Nelson in Bison, SD. He grew up on the Nelson ranch that was his home at the time of his passing. Jerry attended Highland country school and graduated from Bison High School in 1957. He married Betty Vetter on June 13, 1964. To this union two children were born Russel and Penny.


Jerry and Betty moved from the ranch to Bison in 1985 where he worked for the Perkins County Highway Department until he retired in 2005. They moved back to the ranch to enjoy retirement which included traveling, spending time with family, friends and winters in Arizona.
Jerry was a hard working man that was never too busy to help a friend. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and donating his time with the Bison Area Men's Club. Jerry was proud to have been baptized and confirmed in the American Lutheran Church, a church he was also a lifetime member of.

Jerry passed away suddenly at West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND on February 4, 2010.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Betty Nelson, Bison; his mother, Irine Bekken, Belle Fourche, SD; a son, Russel (Ana) Nelson, Volga, SD and a daughter, Penny Nelson, Bison, a sister, Rose (Duane) Buckmeier, Prairie City, SD; six grandchildren, Johanna (Jeremy) Chappell, Betsy Gallardo, BreAnn, Gerald, Alexis and Gavin Nelson; four great grandchildren, McKenzie, Zander and Landri Chappell and Adrian Nelson; a niece, Melanie (Narcisso) Acosta, Prairie City, SD and many friends.