Dan "Digger" Nelson, the son of Owen and June Nelson, was born December 13, 1941, in North Platte. He peacefully passed away at his daughter's home in Sutherland on August 18, 2024, at age 82.
Dan was born at home, the seventh of 10 kids, and grew up in North Platte. After graduating from N.P.H.S. he went to work for Central Nebraska Packing. In 1962 he started working as a mechanic for Ace Kinnaman then returned to Central Pack a year later and was with them until 1968 when he hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad. Dan was a Brakeman/Conductor on the Third District. He also worked part-time for Melvin Bayne at Hershey and dug graves at the Hershey and Sutherland cemeteries, thus earning him the nickname "Digger".
On March 17, 1962, Dan married Sandra Harshfield. They made their home in Sutherland and raised four children, Natalie, Virginia, Gregory and Matthew.
Dan was a member of UTU Local #200, past member of the Sutherland Jaycees, and active in the Sutherland community. Baseball was always of great interest to Dan; he loved playing and coaching . He also volunteered a lot of time and effort into the rebuilding of Mainard Coker Baseball Field in Sutherland.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Owen and June; siblings, Willo, Glenn and Julian Nelson, Patricia Chittenden and Anieda Mobley; and daughter, Natalie Crooks.
Dan is survived by his wife, Sandy; children, Virginia "Ginny" Medina (Joe) and Gregory Nelson (Nancy) of Sutherland and Matthew Nelson (Lena) of North Platte; grandchildren, Adam Huggans (Jessie), Sean Huggans (Kalpana), Mikaela Metzger (Michael), Cassandra Medina (Bradley Whitworth), Marley Nelson, Kristen Ruiz (Kyle), Jocey Taylor (Tyler), Lauren Nelson, Maximilian Nelson, Chloe Nelson and step granddaughter, Emma Wareham; brothers, James Nelson (Kathy) of Franklin, Richard Nelson of Harmon, IL, Harold Nelson of Lincoln and Albert Nelson of Franklin; 12 great-grandkids, 2 step great-grandkids; and many other family members.
Cremation was chosen and family services will be at a later date. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.