Tom Nelson

Tom Nelson was born March 14, 1946 in Valley City, N.D., to Kenneth & Elizabeth (Watson) Nelson. He was the oldest of 13 children. 
Tom was raised on a farm three miles west of Valley City and attended St. Catherine’s School, where he participated in football, yearbook and was the student manager for basketball & track. He graduated in 1964 & was awarded the Holy Name Service Award.
Tom married Janice Lill in 1965 and they had four children born to the marriage. Tom graduated from Valley City State University in 1968 with a BS degree, and majors in English and Physical Education.
While attending college he wrestled on the college wrestling team his freshman year. His junior and senior years he coached seventh and eighth grade basketball at St. Catherine’s, and worked full time at Montgomery Ward. He spent most nights running the projectors at the local drive-in theater.
After graduating from college Tom worked for the Richland County Welfare Office in Wahpeton, N.D., until the fall of 1969, when he accepted his first teaching position in Nora Springs, Iowa. He taught high school English, directed the high school plays and was assistant varsity wrestling coach. Tom taught there until 1974 at which time he accepted a similar position in Spencer, Iowa. While in Spencer, besides coaching wrestling, he also coached seventh grade girl’s basketball, junior high track and was the yearbook advisor.
Tom & Janice divorced in May 1983 and in August, while attending a family reunion in Custer, S.D., Tom met his wife, Linda. They actually only saw each other for 12 days but over a period of a year of nightly phone calls, and hundreds of letters, their love grew and they were married July 21, 1984.
Tom left teaching in 1987 at which time he and Linda moved to Custer and Tom worked as an advertising salesman for the Custer  County Chronicle until 1990.
They then moved to Boise, Idaho, where Tom worked as a salesman in the telecommunication and janitorial supply industry until 2003 when they returned to Custer. After working two more years in the janitorial industry Tom went back to the telecommunication industry until he retired in 2013.
Tom enjoyed dancing to any kind of music but he especially liked to jitter-bug with is favorite partner (Linda). He also enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, playing cards and most games (except marbles), working in their yard, raising quail and chukkars, and watching people stop by to enjoy the Christmas light display for which he was well known. To many who didn’t know his name he was simply known as the Christmas light guy. 
Tom was always ready for a good time and enjoyed spending time with family and friends and following the Boise State Bronco football team.
Tom was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; one sister, Cheryl; one brother, Terry; and three infant brothers.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Linda;  six children, Jim (Janette) Nelson of  Okoboji, Iowa, Karla (Paul) Oppedisano, of Princeton, Texas, Greg of Minneapolis, Minn., Steve (Kristin) Nelson of Independence, Mo., Dallas (Lesley) Wilkinson of Custer and Sundae (Sean) Morgan of Newberg, Mo; two  brothers, Mike of Scobey, Minn., David (Donna), Washburn of North Dakota; five sisters, Barbara Sterling of Minneapolis, Susan (Jack) Patrick of Cheyenne, Wyo., Linda (Jim) Stuart of Casper, Wyo., Diane (Mark) Nolte of Valley City, N.D., and Pam (Gaylen) Jensen of Hazen, N.D.; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Sept. 5, at Custer Lutheran Fellowship. A celebration of Tom’s life will be held 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Mt. Rushmore Brewing Co. in Custer.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.
Memorials may be sent to the Wildcat Youth Wrestling Program, Custer School, 527 Montgomery Street, Custer, SD 57730.