Alvin Nelson, age 94, of 1850 McDonald Drive, Huron, SD, died Thursday, May 14, 2009, at the Huron SunQuest Healthcare Center.

His funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 18, at First Baptist Church with burial at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday from 6-8 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home with the family present and a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m.; or Monday morning at the church one hour prior to service time.

Memorials can be directed to the Forrest McMullen VFW Post #1776.

Alvin C. Nelson was born on November 9, 1914, to John and Edith (Hartwig) Nelson at Gann Valley, SD. He attended school in Gann Valley and graduated from Gann Valley High School in 1932. He then attended the University of South Dakota - Vermillion for 2 years and was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Also in 1932, Alvin enlisted in the South Dakota National Guard in Vermillion, and was honorably discharged as a Corporal in 1937. In 1934, Alvin began his career with the United Sates Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Vermillion, later being assigned to the county office in Brookings.

On March 24, 1942, Alvin enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was assigned to the South Atlantic Ocean Theater where he served aboard ship during World War II. His ship escorted other vessels along the South American Coastline. After 3 years at sea, he was transferred to the Coast Guard Transfer-Receiving Station in St. Louis, MO, where he met his future wife, Betty Fulmer. He was honorably discharged as a Petty Officer First Class (QM1) on September 7, 1945. Following his military discharge. Betty came to Alvins hometown, Gann Valley, where they were married on May 6, 1946.

The couple moved to Wessington Springs, SD, where Alvin resumed his work with USDA Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. In 1950, Alvin was transferred to the USDA state office in Huron. Alvin and Betty have lived in Huron since that time. In1971, Alvin was promoted to the position of State Administrative Officer for the state of South Dakota where he was in charge of all South Dakota County office employees for USDA. He retired in 1978 after a 41-year career with USDA.

Alvin was a member of First Baptist Church; Forrest McMullen VFW Post #1776 where he served as Commander 1980-1982; William Reaves American Legion Post #7 where he served as Veterans Administrator, and VAVS Officer in sales of American flags and flag-poles; Funeral Honor Guard; 40 et 8 where he served as Correspondent; and AARP. He also was an Honorary Life-Member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) where he served as the very first South Dakota State Service Officer - a position he helped create - 4 years as a district representative, chapter president on 2 separate occasions, and secretary. In the October 2000 issue of Retirement Life magazine, Alvin was the featured story for the Faces of NARFE where Association President Chuck Timanus referred to Alvin as NARFE member extraordinaire.

Following Alvins retirement he spent the majority of his time volunteering, particularly preparing income taxes for the elderly and low-income. He was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling with Betty.

He is survived by his wife, Betty of Huron; 4 children, Larry (Mary) Nelson of Northville, MI, Jim (Karen) Nelson of Moline, IL, Beverly (Paul) Coniaris of Edina, MN, and Dan (Dee) Nelson of Pierre, SD; foster son, Greg Gilbert of Wyoming; 9 grandchildren: Angela (Christopher) Mucke, Jason Nelson, Jennifer (Brad) Reckward, Zachary Nelson, Tony (Alekka) Coniaris, Ted (Melissa) Coniaris, Amy (Andreas) Hoeft, Sierra Nelson, and Bailey Nelson; 11 great grandchildren; and 1 sister, Ellen Hall of Chamberlain, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Edwin Nelson and Orville Nelson; 1 infant sister, Grace; 2 sisters-in-law, Muriel Nelson and Josephine Nelson; and 1 brother-in-law, Elert Slim Hall.

Alvin lived his life One Day At A Time.