Obituary
McPherson, McPherson, Kansas, United States
His obituary was published in McPherson, McPherson, Kansas, United States. Dale Burdette Nelson was born May 19, 1927 in rural Clay County, South Dakota, the son of Herman and Vinnie (Nillson) Nelson. He was the youngest of four children born to this union, two sons and two daughters: Harry, Sanna, Lucille, and Dale. Dale attended and graduated from Vermillion High School, Vermillion, South Dakota.
After graduating from high school, Dale enlisted in the United States Navy where he served with the Fifth Fleet Flag Allowance aboard several different ships, including the battleships, The New Jersey and The Iowa, and cruiser, The Vicksburg. After his discharge in 1946, he attended the University of South Dakota, majoring in music, and was the high school band director at Scotland, South Dakota before entering the retail music business as a salesman. After several years in the music industry, Dale earned his multi-engine pilots license and sold airplanes for two years, prior to going into the mobile home manufacturing field where he worked in sales and management. He also spent several years in recreational vehicle sales. Dale worked for Kit Manufacturing as a Sales Manager, owned and operated 3-D Distributing Inc., was an agent for Morgan Drive-A-Way, manager for Coastal Mart, and was a salesman for Kansas Kampers, all of McPherson, Kansas until his retirement. Dale worked part-time during his retirement for Koehn's Korner which later became Mr C's Pit Stop and Rinse and Roll Car Wash of McPherson, Kansas.
Dale was married in 1948 to Rosemary Mann and later divorced in 1966. On January 22, 1968 Dale was united in marriage to Doris Baker at Guymon, Oklahoma. This union brought together their children, three sons and five daughters: Douglas, Scott, Vici, Shelby, Debra L'Ann, Darci, Jeffery Dale, and Jennifer. Dale and his family moved due to his work throughout the years, before making their home in McPherson, Kansas in 1985. Dale and Doris became faithful members of the First Christian Church, McPherson, Kansas where Dale served as an Elder Emeritus, Choir Director, Chairman of the Board, and in many other capacities throughout the years. Dale was also a member and director of the Light Capital Singers, McPherson, Kansas.
Mr. Dale B. Nelson, 81, entered into eternal rest at 3:39 a.m. Monday, July 14, 2008 at his home in Hesston, Kansas while in the company of family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Vinnie Nelson; brother, Harry; sisters, Sanna Nelson and Lucille Peace, and a daughter, Debra L'Ann Swartz.
Dale is survived by his loving and caring wife of over forty years Doris, of the home; children, Douglas Nelson and wife Suzanne, Austin, Texas, Scott Nelson and wife Patty, Kansas City, Missouri, Vici Myers and husband Tommy, Wichita, Kansas, Shelby Marchel, Wichita, Kansas, Darci Phillips, Hesston, Kansas, Jeffery Dale Nelson, Hesston, Kansas and Jennifer Nelson, Manhattan, Kansas; nine grandchildren, Erin Nelson, Austin, Texas, Lindsay Nelson, Austin, Texas, Dr. Brook Nelson, Kansas City, Missouri, Ami Higgins and husband Brian, Wichita, Kansas, Rion "Coach" Rhodes and wife Darcy, Hutchinson, Kansas, Kandee Marchel, Wichita, Kansas, Mindy Marchel, Orlando, Florida, Samantha Marchel, Kansas City, Kansas, and Jordan Phillips, Hesston, Kansas; seven great-grandchildren, Taylor, Parker, Haylee, and Hunter Higgins, Wichita, Kansas, Sidney, Trevor and Jackson Rhodes, Hutchinson, Kansas, several nieces and nephews, other relatives, and a host of friends.
Friends are invited to call on Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. with family present from 5 to 7 p.m. at Glidden - Ediger Chapel, McPherson, Kansas.
Funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church, McPherson, Kansas with Dr. John Gran, Sr. and Pastor Neil Engle officiating. Special music, " In This Very Room" will be sung by the First Christian Church Choir and accompanied by Carolyn Mathis; "Holy Ground" will be sung by Vici Myers; and the congregation will sing "Victory In Jesus" (see insert) with Carolyn Mathis accompanying.
Final resting place will be in the McPherson Cemetery with military honors presented by members of the American Legion Post 24 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2715.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church or Robert J. Dole Veterans Hospital, Wichita, Kansas and they can be sent in care of the Glidden - Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid Street; McPherson, Kansas 67460.