Jo Ann Nelson

Jo Ann Nelson, 92 of Sioux Falls and formerly of Oldham, passed away on Sunday April 5, 2026, at Dougherty Hospice House, Sioux Falls, SD.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 10:30am at the Oldham Lutheran Church in Oldham SD with Vicar Wanda Biel presiding.

Burial will follow at the Oldham Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Crawford Osthus Funeral Chapel of Arlington, SD.

 She was born on June 9, 1933, to Joseph and Alma Thompson, in Mobridge, SD. Since her father was a music director, she lived in several towns in Eastern SD. She graduated from Aberdeen High School and earned a BA in Music Education at Sioux Falls College. In 1956 Jo Ann took a job with the Oldham Public School District as an English Teacher. There she met her future husband, Herb Nelson, they were married on September 1, 1957. They had two sons, Timothy Karl and Jeffrey Joseph. They lived on a farm three miles northeast of Oldham for their entire married life. Jo Ann continued to teach at Oldham as Herb farmed.

When the high school added a library, she taught three English classes and was the librarian. She oversaw the school paper and directed the school plays. She also devoted her time as Librarian at the Oldham Public Library, retiring after forty-four years. In her pastime she loved gardening, was an avid reader and was a diehard Minnesota Twins fan. She was very involved with the Oldham Lutheran Church and the American Legion Auxiliary. In 2013 Jo Ann moved off the farm to an apartment in Madison but kept her contact to the Oldham Community by continuing to work at the Oldham Library twice a week. In 2021 she moved to Sioux Falls to be closer to her son Jeff.

Jo Ann was preceded in death by her mother and father, a brother and sister, her husband Herb, stepson Larry, daughter in law Pam and grandson Cory.

She is survived by her two sons Timothy (Kathy), Jeffrey (Melanie) stepdaughter Muriel Bickett (Gary), two Granddaughters, Karli (Nick), Jennifer (Craig), three grandsons, Adam, Ryan (Ruth), Randy (Connie) and two sisters in laws. She was blessed to have five great granddaughters, Lucy, Reina, Mikaela, Jessica and Peyton.

 Remembrances can be made to Oldham Lutheran Church or to a memorial fund of your choice.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Arlington, Lake Preston and Oldham

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