Lewis Beeler Nielson, age 89, of Volga, died Thursday, January 6, 2011, at the United Retirement Center in Brookings, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Monday, January 10, 2011, at the Sinai Lutheran Church with interment and military rites at the West Sinai Lutheran Cemetery. Visitations will be from 4-7 P.M. Sunday at Eidsness Funeral Chapel in Volga.

Lewis Paul Nielson was born June 17, 1921, at Phillip, South Dakota, to Alfred C. and Elsie (Hood) Nielson. He moved with his family to Volga in 1937, and graduated from Volga High School in 1941. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, from 1942 until 1945, in the European Theater of Operations. On February 10, 1948, he married Pearl Kvinlog at Pipestone, Minnesota. Lewis and Pearl farmed in Bangor Township, and moved into Volga in 2006.

Lewis was a member of Sinai Lutheran Church and a life member of Quail-Evenson American Legion Post No. 133. He served in several American Legion offices including District Commander and chairman of the VAVS of the State American Legion. A true life-long farmer, he enjoyed tinkering and attending auction sales.

Survivors include his wife, Pearl, of Volga; a daughter, Barb (Steve) Heupel, of Jamestown, North Dakota; a son, Steven (Gloria) Nielson, of Volga; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Helen (Bob) Peterson and Dorothy Ishol, both of Brookings. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant twin brothers, Larry and Garry; a sister, Marian Boland and her husband, John; and a brother-in-law, Dale Ishol.