Andrew Kurt Nelson

Andrew Kurt Nelson of Sioux Falls, SD, unexpectedly went home to his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. Andrew was born on June 23, 1993, to Patrick and Sandy Nelson in Sioux Falls. He was a joyful, enthusiastic child with boundless energy who loved playing outside with his neighborhood friends, lawnmowers, Legos, riding his scooter, and any game involving a bat, stick, or ball. Early in his life, his athletic ability became apparent, and he played-and excelled at-a number of sports including soccer, baseball, basketball, and golf. Golf, it would turn out, was his true passion, and his natural ability impressed everyone who met him. His family will never forget seeing a group of golf pros gathered around him on the driving range, marveling, "Check out this kid's swing!" Andrew attended Christian Center Elementary and then Sioux Falls Christian Middle and High School, where he continued to play multiple sports and met several of his lifelong friends. He graduated from SFC in 2012 and went on to attend the University of Sioux Falls, playing on the USF golf team and earning his degree in business in 2016. Some of Andrew's best memories from those years were the long-distance golf trips (often involving far too many men and their golf clubs traveling in a Honda CRV) to various tournaments around the country and the dear friendships he forged with the "USF Crew." It was also during his time at USF that Andrew was introduced to a criminal justice course, which immediately intrigued him and prompted him to change his major and attend law school at St. Thomas University. His law school years were challenging but fulfilling, and he embraced the experience wholeheartedly, making a number of cherished friends and graduating cum laude with his JD in 2019. He made his way back to Sioux Falls, and in 2020, Andrew met the love of his life, Ruth. After three years of dating, they were married in Sioux Falls, SD on June 10, 2023. Together, Andrew and Ruth built a life they loved. They filled their years together with beautiful memories and milestones, big and small, including the purchase of their first house and many subsequent home renovation projects, family trips to the lake and anniversary getaways to the Black Hills, hunting excursions with Winnie and Pat, golf trips to Arizona, and countless "smoked meats" made and enjoyed together on the Traeger grill. Andrew leaves behind a legacy as a dependable leader and a faithful son, husband, and friend. He was blessed with a profound amount of compassion and empathy and cared deeply for all he met. He could talk to anyone, and he had a unique ability to strike up a conversation with a stranger and leave the encounter with a new friend. His family and friends will remember him as intelligent, quick-witted, wise, giving, long-suffering, and steadfast. More than any of that, though, Andrew was a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, both in word and in deed. Though we will miss him indescribably, his loved ones rest in the knowledge that he is safely home with Jesus, who loved him first and will hold him close until we are reunited with him one day. Andrew was preceded in death by his mother, Sandy Nelson, and grandparents, Neil Meyer and Doris and Adrian Nelson. Grateful for having shared his life are his beloved wife, Ruth Nelson; father, Patrick Nelson; sister, Katie (Nate) Hoffman; grandmother, Marian Meyer; dog and hunting partner, Winnie; and many cherished aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and friends, whom he loved like family. Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 12, 2025, from 2-4 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home in Sioux Falls, SD. A memorial service will be held at Connection Church in Sioux Falls on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Memorials may be directed to America's VetDogs or The Banquet Sioux Falls.