Ted Nelson Sr., age 86, of Mitchell, formerly of Letcher, died December 14, 2006 at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 Monday at the Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Letcher. Visitation will be Sunday from 6-8 PM at the Will Funeral Chapel with a 7 PM prayer service. Burial will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Theodore ?Ted? John Ernest Nelson was born May 18, 1920, to Fred and Minnie (Johnson) Nelson, both immigrants from Sweden. Ted attended one room Mayhew School in Elliot Township, where his five children also went to school. Ted came home and taught his mother, father, and sister, Rosaline how to speak English. During the depression, he helped buy groceries by selling furs he had trapped. His dad said he?d rent two more quarters of land if Ted didn?t go to high school. Ted failed his physical for World War II so he just stayed home and worked the farm. Ted was a born and raised member of Trinity Lutheran Church of rural Letcher where his funeral will be held. At the church, he met L. Burdell Berg, whom he married on June 30, 1946. They had five children: Ted Jr (Pat), of rural Letcher; Milt (Sandy), of Mitchell; Dr. John, of Spearfish, Janet (Tim) Markhardt, of rural Sioux Falls and Calvin of Redfield. Ted served on the Board of Directors of the Storla Sunset Nursing Home for 30 years. He was a member of the Farm Bureau, and held most positions at Trinity Lutheran Church. Ted and Burdell traveled most of the United States and Sweden to visit cousins. Ted and his sons farmed quite a little land and fed lots of cattle in the 50?s ? 80?s. His only hobby was work and going to cattle sales. He and Burdell moved to Mitchell in 1997. He is survived by his wife, his five children, his sister, Rosaline, of San Diego, CA; grandchildren: Jason, Chelsea, Elliot, Wynn, Drew, Hans and Bjorn; Steve (Angie) and great grandchildren, Joseph and Elizabeth. Ted was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, and a grandson, Mark.