Kenneth R Nelson

Kenneth R Nelson was born in Minneapolis, MN to Joan (Whalen) and Duane Nelson on January 8, 1959. On March 3, 2020, Ken suffered catastrophic spinal cord injuries, resulting in a quadraplegia. Ken died on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, NE, surrounded by some of the many people who loved him.

The youngest of five siblings, Ken lived in St. Louis Park, MN, Victoria, MN, Redwood Falls, MN, and Rapid City, SD, moving to Bella Vista, AR as an adult. Ken graduated from Rapid City Stevens High School in 1977 and attended classes at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, as well as at the School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City. After trading his house for a 5th wheel, he split his time between Bella Vista and Hart Ranch in the Black Hills. Throughout his life he held many jobs, working in the construction business, as a gold miner at the Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, SD, and as a blackjack dealer in the Black Hills.

Ken believed deeply in the preservation of resources, generosity of time and knowledge, and enjoyed directing materials and resources away from landfills and toward people who could benefit from them. Ken began volunteering for the AARP recycling center in Bella Vista in 1998 and was recognized in 2004 as Volunteer of the Year. He continued volunteering at the recycling center for over 22 years, where he made many lifelong friends. While working there Ken collected Box Tops for Education and sent sacks of labels to friends, relatives, and to the elementary school in Bella Vista where his generosity is recognized with a plaque. Ken was also a regular blood donor at the American Red Cross.

Ken was a supportive, constant, loving, and thoughtful uncle to his sisters' eleven children. A self-described (hardworking, generous) “independent cuss”, Ken was a quiet person with a wry sense of humor. He was very intelligent, a brilliant cards and scrabble player, excellent cook, accomplished carpenter, skilled biker and investor, and regular presence at family gatherings. Ken liked to be useful, did things his own way, was totally unbothered by social norms, and did not suffer fools. He was generous, wickedly funny, and stubborn as hell.

Ken is survived by his four sisters - Linda (Scott) Samuelson, Karen (Mark) McMullen, Diane Mattern, and Debora (Greg) Anderson. He was a beloved uncle to Tammi Steele, Lisa (Tony) Dollar, Matt (Nichole) McMullen, Eric (Laura) McMullen, Adrienne (Josh) Kahrs, Lauren Mattern, Carley Mattern, Neal Mattern, Sam Mattern, Claire Anderson, and Ian (Sally) Anderson. He was preceded in death by his father, Duane Nelson, mother Joan Nelson, and brother Michael Nelson.

At Ken’s request, no funeral service will be held. A family celebration of Ken’s life will be held at a later date in the Black Hills in SD, one of Ken's favorite places.

In Ken’s memory, please consider donating blood, planting wildflowers in your neighborhood, picking up litter, or making a donation to NPR, Planned Parenthood, or the American Red Cross - all organizations Ken supported in his lifetime. He will be missed.