Bertha Eileen Nelson

April 30, 1928 – April 7, 2023
Bertha Eileen Nelson, 94 passed away on Good Friday, April 7, 2023, in
Rapid City, SD. She was born April 30, 1928 near Reva, Harding County.
Bertha was the fourth child of ten children born to Norwegian immigrants,
Peder and “Esther” (Astrid Rasmussen) Tenold. Growing up in the
Depression, Bertha learned to listen to others, respect her elders, and
work. Those ethics were hallmarks of Bertha’s life.
Bertha attended grades 1-8 in Harding County country schools, grade 9 in
Buffalo, SD and grades 10, 11 and 12 in Hettinger, ND. Bertha graduated
from Hettinger High School in 1946.
After graduation, Bertha moved to Sioux Falls, SD, where her older sister
Luella was attending the Sioux Valley Hospital Nurses' Training Program.
Bertha continued her education at Nettleton College while she worked part
time at Manchester Biscuit Company. Thereafter for a short time, Bertha
moved to Hot Springs to be near her sister Delores. Bertha later moved to
Rapid City, where she was employed at Northwestern Bell Telephone.
Bertha met WWII veteran Raymond J. Nelson, who was one of eleven
children born to Wisconsin homesteaders Ingval & Gina Nelson of
Ellingson, Perkins County, SD. On November 14, 1951, Bertha and
Raymond were united in marriage at Grace Lutheran Church, Sturgis, SD.
They relocated to Hettinger, ND. Raymond and his brother Martin Nelson
formed a partnership, Nelson Westside Service, which first sold Socony
Mobiloil products, serviced vehicles, performed light mechanical work, and
provided refrigeration service. Raymond and Bertha also rented and later
purchased farmland to raise cereal grain crops. Bertha worked as the
bookkeeper for the business and the farm.
Bertha and Raymond were blessed with three children, Larry, Barbara, and
Ronald. The children learned the value of education, participation in school
activities and working in business. Bertha was active in the home and she
hosted many holiday dinners for Raymond’s brothers. Bertha shared her
sense of caring and community service for others through her involvement
at Hettinger Lutheran Church where she was active in Ladies’ Aid, Sunday
school, and Bible school. Bertha also volunteered at the Clothes Closet in
Hettinger. For many years, Bertha and her sisters provided daily care for
Grandma Esther when she relocated from Reva to Hettinger.
In January 2017, Bertha relocated to Tender Care, Spearfish, SD after
spending 53 years in the home that Raymond and his brothers built. Bertha
suffered a severe stroke on March 22, 2023, thirty years to the day that
Raymond passed away in 1993. She was transported from Spearfish to
Rapid City Monument Health where she was hospitalized. Later Bertha was
transferred to Monument Hospice House where she passed away.
Bertha is survived by her children, Larry (Patsy) Nelson, Sioux Falls, SD,
Barbara (Dan) Hoff, Chaska, MN, and Ronald Nelson, Bismarck, ND; one
granddaughter, Alex (Derrick) Engel; four grandsons, Nick (Tori) Hoff, Eric
Nelson, Justin (Sarah) Nelson, and Jason Nelson; two great grandchildren;
her brother, Robert Tenold (Norma), Reva, SD, her sister-in-law, Venoy
(Smith) Tenold, Reva, SD, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond J. Nelson; her
parents Peder and Esther Tenold; her sisters Mildred (Jim) Peterson, Alpha
(Philip) Hulse, Luella (Richard) Steinbach, Agnes (John) Steinbach,
Florence (Jerry) Peterson, Delores Coffield; and her brothers Orvin (Eileen)
Tenold and Willie Tenold.
A memorial service to celebrate Bertha’s life will be held at the Hettinger
Lutheran Church on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. Following the
service, interment will be at the cemetery in Hettinger, ND.