Kermit Nelson

Kermit Nelson, 97 of Dalton, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, June 23, 2015 at Sidney Regional Medical Center, Extended Care in Sidney.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Sat., June 27, 2015 in the United Church of the Plains, Trinity site in Dalton with Pastor Eric Alm officiating. Burial with military rites will follow in the Dalton Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney, Friday June 26 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The family will be present.

Memorials have been established to the United Church of the Plains and the Dalton Volunteer Fire Department.

You can view the online obituary and share condolences with the family at http://www.holechekfuneralhomes.com

Kermit Nelson was born January 12, 1918 to Vernon Anker and Mary Sophie (Larson) Nelson at the family farm southwest of Potter. Kermit attended country school district 82 and graduated from Potter High School in 1935. After high school, he helped his widowed mother on the farm until March 10, 1942 when he enlisted into the Army/Air Corp. After basic training he was sent to radio school in Louisiana, then to a top secret radar school in Georgia. Kermit was finally sent to a radar station west of Orlando, Fla. This was also an intelligence gathering effort, checking for radio signals along the southeast coast of the United States. Here they also trained personnel to become radar operators. After that, he was put on a higher level team to train pilots to intercept bombers at night by knowing how to read their radar screens. He also was a radar station inspector and trainer, covering the entire coastline of the state of Louisiana. After the end of World War II, he returned to Potter to farm.

On May 19, 1947 Kermit married the love of his life, Marjorie Sahs at Trinity Lutheran Church at Dalton. They spent 68 wonderful memory filled years together and raised two children: Gwen and Gene. In 1950, they moved to Dalton to farm and ranch on the Volkert-Sahs homestead. In 1958, Kermit received the Soil Conservation Award for terracing his hilly land. Kermit also loved raising cattle and was so very proud of his herd.

Kermit was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran/United Church of the Plains for 65 years, serving on the council for several years, and was a member of the Dalton Lions Club and American Legion for over 50 years. Kermit was a promoter of education. He was president of the Dalton School Board during the building of the 1965-1967 new school addition.

Kermit and Marjorie loved to go square dancing and did so for 32 years. They also enjoyed traveling with their fifth wheel trailer as well as going on tours in the United States and abroad with friends, and often with Marjorie's sister Elaine.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years: Marjorie; daughter Gwen (Terry) Johnson of Ogallala, son Gene (Ellen) Nelson of Dalton; five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Survivors also include his sister Delores Shanholtz of Plattsmouth and sister-in-law Katheryn Nelson of Sidney.

Preceding Kermit in death were his parents, three brothers and three sisters.

Holechek Funeral Home and Cremations of Sidney is serving Kermit's family.