Oriole J. Nelson

Oriole June (Melcher) Nelson, 94, went home to be with her LORD and Savior on Wednesday, February 8, 2023.

Oriole was born June 5, 1928, to Hugo and Pearl (Roundy) Melcher at Aberdeen, SD. Oriole grew up on a farm two miles East of the families current farm. Growing up she helped her mother with gardening and raising chickens. Oriole moved to Aberdeen to attend high school and also worked at Woolworths. She graduated from Aberdeen Central High School.

Oriole met Calvin Nelson, the love of her life, at a dance at the Richmond Pavilion Dance Hall on July 4, 1945. After a one-year courtship, they were married October 6, 1946. Together they shared 75 years of marriage. They lived in Leola, SD, until 1949 when they moved to a farm near Wetonka, SD. In the fall of 1956, they moved to their current farm.

Oriole was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church where she was active in LWML, Ladies Aide and one of the circles. Oriole and Calvin loved to dance and were members of Square Dance Belles & Beaus and the Moose Lodge in Aberdeen. Oriole served on the Board of Equalization and helped with elections. She was always a help mate to Calvin on the farm, as well as keeping a large garden and growing beautiful flowers. Oriole was a great cook and baker and everyone who visited enjoyed her hospitality. Family was very important to Oriole and Calvin and they enjoyed traveling to visit them. After her children where grown, Oriole worked at Hub City Livestock.

Grateful for having shared Oriole’s life are her children: Ron (Deb) Nelson, Carol Berger, Dianne (Wade) Johnson, David (Janet) Nelson, Jim (Deb) Nelson, Janet (Jim) Burt; grandchildren: Chad (Jill) Nelson, Jaime Nelson, Brian (Tamsin) Nelson, Tiffany (Jeff) Schmoll, Stacy Ellis, Ryan (Liz) Johnson, Michael (Angela) Nelson, Matthew (Ashlee) Nelson, Jenny (Bill) Bailey, Kevin (Heather) Nelson, Sarah (James) Young, and Lindsey Burt; great-grandchildren: Carson, Austin, Brady, Jonathon, Kaitlyn, Justin, Daniel, Nolan, Makenna, Clinton, Tucker, Amelia, Taylor, Chandler, Garrett, Mikeala, Lucas, Sydney, Sarren, Wynterlyn, Alexis, Paisley, Dakota; and great-great-grandchild Layton.

Preceding Oriole in death are parents Hugo and Pearl Melcher; husband Calvin Nelson; grandchild Randal Nelson; great-grandchild CJ Dow; and her siblings Helen Reuer and Merlyn Melcher.