Carney C. Nelson, 79, of Mitchell, died Monday, April 28, 2014 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab one day before his 80th birthday.
Mass of Christian Burial was Friday, May 2 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with private family burial at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation was Thursday, May 1 at Will Funeral Chapel.
Carney Nelson was born to Norris and Alice (Adams) Nelson on April 29, 1934 in Charles Mix County. He graduated from Lake Andes High School in 1952 and from South Dakota State University in Brookings in 1957 with a degree in pharmacy.
He married Jean Taylor on May 7, 1955 and seven children were born of that marriage. His wife, Jean passed away in 1968. Carney married Maggie Moran on July 31, 1971 and one child was born of that marriage.
Carney began his pharmacy career in Platte at Eastman Drug. Later he worked at Scallin Drug in Mitchell and in 1962 he opened Sixth Avenue Pharmacy in the Tobin Clinic Building. Carney worked part time as consulting pharmacist at St. Joseph Hospital and became Director of Hospital Pharmacy in 1974. In 1970 he became a consultant and vendor for the Mitchell Retirement Nursing Home. He was also the consultant pharmacist to a 168-bed nursing home and developed a unit dose system. Carney owned the Tobin Clinic building with Dr. Weatherill until Avera Queen of Peace Hospital purchased it in 1990. He retired in 2004. All of his life, Carney also owned land and raised cattle at Lake Andes.
He is survived by his eight children, Laurie Nelson, Sioux Falls, Doug (Nancy) Nelson, Chamberlain, Robert (Marsha) Nelson, San Antonio, Tex., James (Amber) Nelson, Lake Andes, Ann Harless, Plankinton, Mary (Donn) Johnson, Mitchell, Jennifer Heidelberger, Worthington, Minn. and Melissa (Steve) Nelson, Sioux Falls; 22 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and brothers and sisters-in-law.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jean Taylor Nelson; his wife, Maggie Moran Nelson; and his siblings, Nate (Florence) Nelson, Arnold (Laura) Nelson, LaVonne (Luther) Wigdahl, Robert (Mert) Nelson, Fern (Pat) Campbell and Gladys (Adolph) Sejnoha.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Carney’s name.