Nelson Edward Dahl

April 26, 1949-Sept. 16, 2010

PALISADE, Nebraska -- Nelson Edward Dahl was born April 16, 1949, in Coos County, Oregon. His parents were Arthur Edward 'Ed' Dahl and Edith Grandstaff.

Nelson graduated from Fargo Central High School in Fargo, North Dakota in 1967. While attending high school and college, Nelson worked for the KTHI (now KVLY) television station in Fargo. He graduated from North Dakota State University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts in social science.

He married Mary Sundby in 1971 in Fargo.

Nelson became an FCC licensed broadcast engineer and joined his family in owning several radio stations in the Midwest, the last being in North Platte, Nebraska. After leaving the radio business, he returned to college and received a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Kearney State College in 1987 and a Master of Arts in education administration in 1990. He received an education specialist degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1992 and then enrolled in the education administration doctoral program at the University of South Dakota.

Nelson taught in rural Dawson County, Nebraska before becoming principal and special education director in Faith, South Dakota in 1990 and superintendent in New Underwood, South Dakota in 1991.

He returned to Nebraska and was superintendent and principal at Lynch Public School from 1992 until 2008 and at Wauneta-Palisade Public Schools from 2008 until his death.

Nelson married Cheryl Wells on Dec. 27, 1995 in Yankton, South Dakota.

He was an FAA instrument-rated pilot, an FCC licensed H.A.M. radio operator and an accomplished musician. He was a man of many interests: music, astronomy, reading and traveling, but his greatest joy was spending time with his family.

Nelson was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by wife, Cheryl of Palisade; step sons, Timothy and wife, Deanna Mulhair of Palmyra, Nebraska, and Andrew and wife, Ashley Mulhair of Wayne, Nebraska; sister, Suzanne Pelton and her husband, Jim Pelton of Arnold, Nebraska; step grandchildren, Jackson Mulhair and Arianna Mulhair; niece, Raine Pelton; and nephew, Oliver Pelton.

Funeral services are Monday, 11 a.m. (CDT), at the Palisade School Gym, with the Rev. Val Bartek and the Rev. Bonnie McCord officiating. Private family inurnment will occur at a later date.

There is no visitation as he chose cremation.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his memory.

Online condolences can be left at liewerfuneralhome.com

Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.