Donald O. Nelson, Tucumcari, NM, died Tuesday, September 16, 2008, at Tucumcari Hospital.

Visitation will be Tuesday from noon until 1:30 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.

Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery with the service and military honors provided by the Deadwood Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard. Family and friends may gather at Kinkade Funeral Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery.

Donald was born September 5, 1925, at Capitol, MT, to Harry and Lula May (Schriver) Nelson. His sister, Lucille, helped name him. He attended country school in Capitol. The family moved to Deadwood in 1936. He attended school in Boulder Canyon and graduated from Deadwood High School.

Don was drafted in 1943 and served in the US Army in Northern France, Rhineland, and in Central Europe. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Deadwood for a short time before moving to Texas. Don worked as a lineman. He moved to Alamosa, CO, and continued working as a lineman until his retirement from Colorado Public Service. Don then moved to his favorite place in the world. He bought a small ranch in New Mexico near Tucumcari where he lived until his death.

Don was a life-member of the Deadwood VFW.

Survivors include one brother, Kenneth (Karen) Nelson, Deadwood; two sisters, Lucille Warren, Lead, and Nellie Cottan, Odessa, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, and three sisters.