Philip Nelson

Philip Nelson, age 82, of Milbank, SD, died November 11, 2018, at Milbank Avera Hospital.

Funeral services for Philip Nelson will be Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church with Rev. Timothy Koch officiating.  Visitation will be Friday, November 16, 2018, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home and continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.  Burial will be at the Milbank City Cemetery.

Philip Luverne Nelson was born on March 15, 1936, to Rudolph and Amy Nelson in Watertown, SD. He was baptized on January 4, 1939. Philip grew up on a farm in the Strandburg area and graduated from Strandburg High School. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served for four years, attaining the rank of Aviation Third Class Petty Officer Mechanic. After his honorable discharge from the service, he obtained employment with Atlantic Research Corporation in Alexandria, VA. He eventually worked for C.G. Estabrook, Inc. in Arlington, VA.

Philip was united in marriage to Evelyn (Valentine) Nelson on October 25, 1959. They lived in Alexandria, VA, until they purchased an 80-acre farm east of Milbank and moved back to South Dakota in the spring of 1963. Phil eventually started working with Gil Naseth and later, Adrian Schwagerl as an electrician. In 1968, he and two other gentlemen formed the corporation “Allied Services”. He worked for many years as an electrical contractor and served the community working with heating, plumbing and air conditioning.

Phil was a kind, gentle soul and always enjoyed helping the widows who would ask for his help. Even after his retirement, he still enjoyed having people call for advice on the phone. Phil served on the Milbank Fire Department from 1976 to 1989. He enjoyed fishing trips to Canada in the spring and pheasant hunting trips with friends in the fall. He also enjoyed hunting deer and elk.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Evelyn; three sons: Jeffrey (Tami) Nelson of Shakopee, MN; Terrill (Dana) Nelson of Blaine, MN; and Stacey (Cari) Nelson of New Palestine, IN; brothers: Howard Neil Nelson of Monmouth, OR; and David Nelson of Bloomington, MN; brother-in-law, Richard Lingwall; sister-in-law, Grace Kellogg; grandchildren: Luke Nelson, Gabriel Nelson, and Ariel Nelson; step-grandchildren: Taylor (Johnathon) Wilke, Madison Noyes, and Alexander Noyes; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents: Rudy and Amy; and his sister, Darlene Lingwall.