Laurel Ann Nelson was born on Oct. 4, 1938, in Tracy, Minn., to Ruben and Blanche (DeBlieck) Mickelson. She grew up near Tracy and attended Country School District #51, Murray County until the fifth grade she then transferred to Tracy Public School graduating in 1956. On Sept. 6, 1957, she and Clifford Nelson were married at the Willow Lake Lutheran Church in rural Currie, Minn. Following their marriage, they made their home and farmed near Lake Shetek where they raised their five children.
In 1972 Laurel attended classes and became an assessor. She worked for 10 years as a local assessor for four townships in Murray County. In 1982 she began working at the Murray County Assessor Office in Slayton, Minn., and in 1984 she moved to Slayton. In 1987 she became Murray County Assessor and retired after 23 years of working for Murray County. Following her retirement, she went to work for Bob Pazdernik as an Assessor Contractor.
Obituaries
Jimmie R. Vollan, 76, of Garretson, passed away Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, while visiting his daughter in Yankton. Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at East Nidaros Lutheran Church, rural Baltic. Interment was in the church cemetery.
Ronald L. Hendrix, 84, of Sherman, died Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
A come and go visitation was held Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home in Garretson. Burial was in Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Garretson.
Norma Carolyn Weelborg, 92, of Brandon, passed away on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Norma resided at Bethany Care Home in Brandon for the last three years.
Private services will be held by the family.
Randy “RP” Dale Postma, 73, of Sioux Falls, passed away Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 at the Avera Granite Falls Hospital in Granite Falls, Minn. Funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 also at George Boom Funeral Home.
Carol L. Peterson, 95, of Sioux Falls, died Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls.
She is survived by her children, Gary Peterson, Brandon, Karen Bauer, Loveland, Colo., Susan (Clyde) Hoeppner, Sioux Falls, Jane (Jim) Stansbury, Crooks, and JoAnn Peterson, Gastonia, N.C.; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Randal Roger Rist, 78, of Brandon, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026 at Avera Hospital in Sioux Falls
A memorial service, followed by military honors and burial, was held Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Sioux Falls.
Donald M. Grooms, 90, of Brandon, died Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Bethany Home, Brandon.
David Allan Sneller, 75, of rural Valley Springs, passed away peacefully at his home following a lengthy illness on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
Ramona Carol Moe, 95, Sioux Falls, formerly of Brandon, died Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Bethany Home in Sioux Falls,
Visitation will be 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, with a Prayer Service at 3:30 p.m. at Heartland Funeral Home. Memorial services will begin at 11 am.. Monday, Sept. 14, at Eastside Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls. Inurnment will follow at Brandon Lutheran Cemetery. This service will be livestreamed.
