John Nelson, 95, of Arlington, died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018,Center in Arlington.

Funeral services for are at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Arlington United Methodist Church with the Rev. Teresa Whetsel officiating. Burial is in the Arlington City Cemetery.  Visitation is from 5-7 p.m.  Wednesday at the Johnson-Henry Funeral Home in Arlington and preceding services in the church on Thursday.

John Fredrick Nelson was born May 28, 1922, at Guthrie Center, Iowa, the son of Frank and Alma (Johnson) Nelson.  His family moved to Watertown and later to Brookings, where he graduated from high school and then attended South Dakota State College.  

His pharmacy education was interrupted by serving as a Pharmacist’s Mate in the US Navy for “3 years, 3 months and 4 days” (22 months at sea) during World War II.  

After graduating from SDSC, he worked in Watertown, as a pharmacist at Haggar Drug until moving to Arlington in 1954 and purchasing a drugstore, which became Nelson Drug. He resided in Arlington until his death.

In 1949 he married Elizabeth Wallenfelt in Watertown, and they raised four children.  John served as president of the South Dakota Pharmacists Association, and served on the South Dakota Board of Pharmacy, served as a city councilman and was chairman of the Arlington Development Corporation for 25 years. In 2013 John received the Lifetime Recognition to the Community by the Arlington Area Chamber of Commerce.

He sold their drug store in 1986 to Julie and Craig Seas, but continued to work there part-time for Julie for many years.  He retired in 2009 after practicing for 61 years.  

 John enjoyed hunting, playing golf, gardening, fishing, carving and painting decoys, sailing in the British Virgin Islands with friends and family, and spending time at the family’s summer home on Lake Poinsett.  He was honored for having been a member of the American Legion for 72 years, and a member of the Masonic Lodge for 62 years.  

 He is survived by his wife Elizabeth; their children Kathleen (Mahlon) Gray, Julie (Craig) Seas, Nancy (Curt) Cutler, and Dave (Jolene) Nelson; nine grandchildren; three great-children; a step-grandson; and five step-great-grandchildren and  a sister, Marjorie Elkins of Sioux Falls. 

He was preceded in death by a sister, Harriett Holcomb, and a step-great-grandson Clinton Summers.

 People wishing to do so can make a donation in John’s memory to the Arlington American Legion Edgar Herrick Post No. 42 or the Arlington FirstUnited Methodist Church.