Darnelle Jean Nelson – Moody County Business

Darnelle Jean Nelson (née Ronning) was born on September 27, 1947, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Dorothy Josaas Ronning, a schoolteacher, and Carroll, Clayton Ronning, a farmer who had recently returned from World War II in Japan. Darnelle’s father died when she was one year old from complications of appendicitis. Several years later, she was fortunate enough to become the stepdaughter of Charles, M, Gullickson, and gradually three siblings joined Darnelle and her older brother, Danny, to complete the family. They grew up on a farm in eastern South Dakota, near the town of Colman. Darnelle attended high school in Flandreau, South Dakota, and South Dakota State University in Brookings. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1969 and began teaching sociology and psychology at Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. During her summer job at Wall SD, she met a friendly Canadian man who shared her farming background and Norwegian heritage. They married on May 22, 1971, and Darnelle became a landed immigrant in Canada before gaining her citizenship several years later. With Clifford Field, she explored the adventures of developing her career, farming, and becoming parents to two wonderful boys, Travis Wade and Trent Clifford.
In 1994, Darnelle married Paul W. Nelson of Stockholm, Saskatchewan. Together with Paul, she became Patrick’s stepmother, continued her career, retired and enjoyed traveling. They had many wonderful adventures while spending time at their second home in Henderson, Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas. They enjoyed hiking, entertainment, sports, music and avoided at least part of many Canadian winters.
During Darnelles’ 29-year career, she taught and served as an administrator at Minton School in Minton SK, Saar School in Kronau SK, White City School in White City SK and Moosomin Elementary in Moosomin SK. She appreciated the many wonderful students and colleagues she worked with.
Over the past thirty years, she has been fortunate to have loved, and been loved in return, three beautiful dogs: the cautious and complex Rika, the gentle and beautiful Roxy, and the cheerful Lola, who spent her days in the last years of her life.
Darnelle is survived by her husband, Paul, her beloved sons and precious daughters-in-law: Travis and Kathryn Mouat Field and Trent and Melanie Kerin Field, and Patrick Nelson, grandchildren Max, Molly, Oliver, Elias, Madeline, Abigail and Beckett. Her brother, Danny Ronning and his wife, Carol, her sister, Janet Gullickson, and her husband, Bobby Farmer, her brother, Charles Gullickson, and his wife, Lizbeth, her brother Gregory Gullickson, and seven wonderful nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister-in-law, Vera Ronning