Marie A. Nelson

1929 - 2017

Marie A. Nelson

Marie Ann Nelson, 88, of Vermillion, South Dakota passed away on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with her family by her side.

A visitation with video tribute will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., on Friday, August 25, 2017 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermillion with a prayer service at 7 p.m.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermillion with Pastor James Fowler officiating.

Burial will take place at the Bluff View Cemetery in Vermillion following the service.

Marie was born in Tabor, South Dakota on June 9, 1929, the daughter of Albert Joseph and Mary Agnes(Houser) Koupal.

Marie entered elementary school speaking only the Czech language and soon learned English. After graduating from Tabor High School in 1947, Marie continued her education at Nettleton Business School in Sioux City, IA, where she earned a business degree.

It was in college that she met the love of her life, Paul T. Nelson. They were married on February 11, 1950. To this union, three children were born, Mark, Mary, and Karen. Paul preceded her in death on October 15, 2006.

Marie and Paul settled on the Nelson family farm in 1950, where they raised their children, grew crops and raised livestock. Marie was well known for her great sense of humor and her exceptional cooking skills. She kept the family and farm help well fed over the years. Always the hostess at the family's Swan Lake cabin, the lake was the weekend hangout for large numbers of family and friends. Marie was a dedicated mother who never missed one of her children's school, 4-H, sporting or community theatre events.

After college, Marie worked at the Tabor Telephone Company until she married and moved to Vermillion. Besides being a hard-working farm wife, she enjoyed working seasonally at the USD Registrar's Office collecting tuition and fees.

An accomplished seamstress, Marie sewed clothing, loved quilting, and made intricate Christmas stockings for each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed reading, cooking large family meals, baking goodies and making the prettiest decorated Christmas Cookies.

Survivors include her three children, Mark (Deb) Nelson of Vermillion, SD, Mary (Jeff) Muhlenkort of Beresford, SD, and Karen (Jack) Kirkebak of Alcester, SD; her five grandchildren, Kam (Kevin) Sprott of Needham, MA, Mikael (Annie) Nelson of Kansas City, MO, Robert (Val) Schilling of Dickinson, ND, Megan (Clint) Wellendorf of Ida Grove, IA, and Kate Kirkebak of Alcester, SD; six great-grandchildren; her sister, Kay Nelson of Yankton, SD and a sister-in-law, Hannah Anderson of Plano, TX; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert & Mary Koupal, her husband, Paul T. Nelson, her siblings, Edwin Koupal and Martha Anderson.

The Kober Funeral Home of Vermillion has been entrusted with the services.

Condolences may be posted online at www.koberfuneralhome.com.