Nancy Townsend, age 73, of Mitchell, SD died Thursday, July 2, 2009 at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Wednesday at Harvest Community Church of the Nazarene with burial at the American Legion Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Will Funeral Chapel.

Nancy Townsend, daughter of Hans and Caroline (Taft) Petersen, was born December 18, 1935 in Mitchell, SD. She grew up and received her education in Mitchell, graduating from Mitchell High School in 1954. After her schooling she was employed at Satterlee Drug in Mitchell until marrying Ned.

Nancy was united in marriage with Ned Townsend on January 2, 1955 in Mitchell, SD. The couple made their home in San Diego, CA where Ned was stationed in the US Marines. They made their home in several communities over their 50 years of marriage including, Sioux Falls, SD, Des Moines, IA Harlan, IA, Omaha, NE, Huron, SD, Letcher, SD, Madison, SD and for the last 20 years, back home in Mitchell. Nancy was a homemaker. They were both involved in raising their four children. After the children were raised, Nancy gave care to people through Helping Hands.

In her spare time she enjoyed sharing her baking and cooking with her family and many friends and playing cards.

Nancy was a member of Harvest Community Church of the Nazarene.

Grateful for having shared her life are four children, Barb (Doug) Doorn, Yankton, SD, Doug (Carolyn) Townsend, Sioux Falls, SD, Gary (Laurie) Townsend, Wausau, WI, Sandra (Bruce) Warren, Tucson, AZ; 13 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; a brother, Jim (Naoma) Peterson, Huron, SD; two sisters, Helen Preston, Mitchell, SD, Evelyn Hinders, Grants Pass, OR.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ned Townsend on July 16, 2005, her parents and a sister Alice Miles .