Erlis Violet Nelson, 87, of Colman, SD, passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Dells Nursing and Rehab Center in Dell Rapids, SD. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at Colman Lutheran Church in Colman, SD. Visitation will be held from 5:00PM to 7:00PM with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 PM on Monday, November 27, 2023 at Skroch Funeral Chapel in Colman, SD.

Erlis was born on July 28, 1936 in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota to parents, Elmer and Violet (Olsen) Christensen. She grew up on a farm south of Colman and graduated from Colman High School in 1954. She then attended General Beadle State Teachers College in Madison and received her teaching degree in elementary education. She went on to teach one year in Oldham, SD and one year in Colman, SD.

On May 26, 1957 she was united in marriage to Carroll Nelson. To this union the couple were blessed with three children and Erlis would stop teaching to raise her family on a farm south of Colman.

After her children were grown, Erlis returned to education and worked as a teacher's aid at Colman Elementary School.

Her hobbies included baking and playing the piano, she also enjoyed time out going to coffee with her friends. Mostly she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren attending their sporting and music events.

Erlis is survived by her children, Laurie (Ken) Hannasch, Colman, SD, Vince (Jeri) Nelson, Colman, SD, and Diane (Dennis) LeBrun, Dell Rapids, SD; sister, Pauline (Eldon) Nelson, Sioux Falls, and sister-in-law, Jean Kenison; 10 grandchildren, Bethany, Caitlin, Dalton, Jenny, Sarah, Paige, Matt, Jeff, Kirk, and Lexie; and 28 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carroll, two sister, Delores Anderson and Phyllis Bergdale, and sister-in-law, Barb Turner.