Nelda Hultgren, 93, passed away Thursday morning, September 19, 2024 at Bethesda of Beresford in Beresford, South Dakota.  She was born Nelda Ethleyn Olson on February 5, 1931-the sixth girl of nine children- to Arthur C. Olson and Cora A. (Ellefson) Olson at their rural Volin, SD family farm in Yankton County.  Nelda was baptized and confirmed at Trondhjem Lutheran Church near Volin.  Her elementary education was achieved at McFarland country school, rural Volin.  She graduated from Alcester High School in 1948.

After high school, Nelda attended Southern State Teacher's College in Springfield, SD.  Upon earning a Teacher's Certificate, she began to teach in several rural schools. She married John Homandberg, August 12, 1950, and from this union had two daughters, Nancy and Jean. They were later divorced and Nelda raised her daughters alone with great love and support from Nelda's parents. It was during this time that a young man named Dennis Hultgren paid her an after-school visit at Mount Hope Country School. Dennis stopped by to offer her students a Korean slide show about his military experiences. The two of them did not know they were being set-up by a neighbor lady up-the-road named Anna Frisk.  Dennis and Nelda began dating and married on August 3, 1957.  Years later, Nelda went back to school and earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Dakota.  After rural schools closed, Nelda began teaching at Alcester Elementary.  She taught for 19 total years and immensely enjoyed teaching her students every day. Nelda was a partner with Dennis to improve and preserve Hulteboda Farm founded in 1879 which is now on the National Historic Register.

Nelda had a servant's heart, amazing work ethic, and taught school every year while taking care of her family and four children at the same time. She was also an excellent cook and baker.  She was well-known for her breads, pies, buns, jams, and decorated tea-rings.  The purple fair ribbons that she won on her bread made her smile.  Proud of her Norwegian Heritage, she enjoyed wearing her Norwegian costume and baking all the delicacies of Norway.  She did a lot of gardening and canning and could entertain and feed a large crowd…on a whim.

Painting, drawing, sketching, and calligraphy were favorite pastimes for Nelda.  Writing backwards was another enjoyment.  Birthday cards were sketched with musical notes and lines, that represented Happy Birthday.  She also loved to play the piano (self-taught), at church and school events, family gatherings, or just for pleasure.

Nelda was always active in church, at both Union Creek and later at Romsdal.  She was President of the Ladies Group, sang in the church choir, attended church conferences, and always enjoyed decorating for holidays and special events.  She was also very generous with sharing her tasty cooking and baking items.

Nelda was a faithful and busy member of the Albert E. Hoschler Legion Auxiliary Unit #186 in Akron, IA, holding several different offices such as Auxiliary President, 9th District President, and most recently, Chaplain.  She served on numerous committees to fulfill what she believed was her duty as a good citizen.  Nelda and her "unique" humor and wit will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Nelda leaves behind her four children: Nancy (Willard) Forsythe of Akron, IA; Jean (Dene) Doty of Alcester, SD; Jahn (Colleen) Hultgren of Florence, SC; and Ruth (Scott) Henneman of Omaha, NE; ten grandchildren: Shaun Klemme, Kristen Jean Klemme, Vanessa Klemme VanDeWiele, Kyle Doty, Christopher Doty, Keith Doty, Craig Doty, Amber Hultgren Topping, Sarah Henneman Willson, and Dylan Henneman; nineteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandsons.  She is also survived by her brother Larry (Betty) Olson and sisters-in-law Dorothy Olson and Ione Lucht and numerous nephews, nieces, and friends. Preceding her in death are husband Dennis Hultgren, parents Arthur and Cora Olson, and siblings Melinda, Arline, Rosella, LeVila, Cleone, Vernold, and Gaylerd.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at Romsdal Lutheran Church, rural Beresford, followed by a luncheon. Pastor Chris Schroeder will officiate. Burial will take place at the Union Creek Cemetery, rural Akron. Visitation will be Tuesday, September 24, 2024 from 4-7 pm at the Wass Funeral Home Chapel in Alcester, South Dakota. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Albert E. Hoschler Legion Auxiliary or The Gospel Mission in Sioux City, Iowa, or a charity of your choice. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends who knew her. We celebrate her life knowing the impact she had on all of us.