Burt Nehl, age 85

Burt Nehl

Burt Nehl, age 85, longtime Sioux Co., ND Rancher, passed away on Saturday July 9, 2016 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND.
Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, July 15, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Watauga, South Dakota.  Fr. Tony Grossenburg officiated.  Burt's ashes will be buried by his family at a later date. Visitations were from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon, South Dakota, and from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 14 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Watauga, followed by a Rosary/Vigil service at 7:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the Mass on Friday morning at the Church.
Joseph Burton Nehl was born on November 22, 1930 at Keldron, South Dakota. He was the youngest of four children born to Ray Nehl and Rose (Sharp) Nehl. Burt and his siblings Donald and Edna Belle, spent their younger years growing up on their parents’ ranch north of Watauga in Sioux County, North Dakota. Burt loved horses as a young boy. He attended the Silent Butte Country School through eighth grade and rode horse to school with the Hinker children. He enjoyed ranching with his father raising Hereford cattle and years later Black Angus cattle. 
Burt met Mary Jahner in 1962 and after a short engagement they were married. Ten months later their first child Nancy was born. Nita, Kim, Karen and Darren quickly followed. As a family, Burt, Mary and children loved to go camping and fishing. They never traveled very far and even camped on their own land near the Cedar River a couple times. Many fish were caught just over the riverbank by their home. Burt’s favorite fishing experience was catching a 43 inch Northern Pike by stabbing it with a pitchfork. He loved playing cards with his family, friends and neighbors. Burt continued ranching until his retirement at which time he and his wife Mary moved to Lemmon, SD. While living in Lemmon they continued to be very social, going out for coffee with friends, visiting and playing many games of pinochle, and attending their grandchildren’s activities.
Even though he moved to Lemmon and made many friends there, Burt would consider himself a lifetime member of the Watauga community and of St. Michael’s Catholic Church. He had a strong faith in God and was kind to everyone he met, setting a great example for his family members and others. He was a soft spoken and dedicated husband who adored his wife. He was a patient, loving father who earned the respect and honor of his children without ever raising his voice or a hand to them. He loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and was very proud of each of them and their accomplishments. He had a great sense of humor during every situation, even the toughest ones near the end of his life. He was never known to complain. He will be greatly missed by his family and many, many friends.
Grateful for sharing his life are his wife Mary; daughter, Nancy(Brad) Olson of McIntosh, SD, daughter, Nita (Kent) Weikum of Dickinson, ND, daughter Kim (Bob) Nutsch of Mandan, ND, daughter, Karen (Alan) Voller of Bison, SD, and son, Darren (Ronda) Nehl of Timber Lake, SD, 19 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by; his parents Ray and Rose Nehl, siblings Margaret Nehl, Edna Belle Haisch, and Donald Nehl, and great grandson Colter Williams.
Condolences to the Nehl family can be sent through our website at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com

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