Delores M. Nelson

Delores M. Nelson, 83 of South Sioux City, passed away Friday, August 30, 2024. A Memorial Mass will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, September 6, 2024 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in South Sioux City. Rosary will begin at 10:00 A.M. at the church with visitation to follow. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Michael's Church.

Born to Jack and Florence (Goergen) Hungerford. Delores, known as Lori or Dee, was raised in Allen and Jackson, Nebraska before coming to South Sioux City, graduating in 1959. She married Albert “LeRoy” Nelson September 25, 1965. 

Delores was a beautician at the Mirror Beauty Shoppe on Dakota Ave before taking ownership of the shop in the days of lite cigarettes and copious amounts of Aqua Net hair spray along with a Football Saturday cocktail station. She was a long-time member and office holder of the South Sioux City Firefighters Auxiliary.

 After retirement Delores and Leroy traveled as winter Texans and Arizona snowbirds. They attended many Husker Bowl games and NASCAR races making many memories and friends along the way. Delores’ favorite retirement duties were taking care of her grandchildren that included trips to the Black Hills and fishing trips to Spirit Lake and Yankton. Stories of Dairy Queen stops with Grandma are legendary amongst the grandchildren.

Delores is remembered for her care of and commitment to others. Her hugs were the very best hugs you could receive. She had many bonus children, each knowing they were her favorite. The door was always open, the front and refrigerator doors. With that love came a good kick in the butt or the withering raised eyebrow when needed. She loved us well and she loved us with all her heart. 

Delores loved “her” Huskers. She never really watched a game, instead she worked out her anxiety and frustrations by scrubbing the floors or raking the yard! She would often get calls during a game to get out and rake or scrub harder! 

Delores was a voracious reader and Kennedy assassination aficionado. She loved music and had a huge collection of 8-tracks and albums via 1 cent Columbia House records. Her legacy of reading was handed down by her father and she carried it onto her children and grandchildren. She was an incredible crocheter making blankets for children, grandchildren, and friends. She was a little league softball coach for her daughters.

Two years ago, she participated in the St. Michael’s Bible Study. It was a great time of joy, education, and friendship. When she began this final journey, her greatest comfort was her faith and her family. Her conviction to Christ, Mother Mary, and her Catholic faith carried Delores and her family through the roughest of times. Her family drew their strength through her as they always had before. In addition, Fr. Mike Keating’s visits, prayers, and friendship was cherished by Dee and her family. 

Left to treasure her memory and to share stories are her husband, LeRoy Nelson, her three children, Susan (Jonathan) Johansen, Sarah (Robert) Stahle, Clinton (Alyssa) Nelson. She was the proud grandmother of five grandchildren, Nolan (Monica) Nelson, MaKayla Nelson (Colin Milos), Brianna (Lance) Kelly, Jack and Peyton Stahle; a great grandchild, Jade Nelson; and brothers Bill (Judy) Hungerford, Dick Hungerford, sister Arlene Whitaker, and sister-in-law Donna Hungerford; many nieces, nephews and godchildren. Her dear friends include Karilyn Watkins, Brenda Wolfe and Betty Cooper. She held a special place in her heart for Misty Andreasen and her family, Steve and Delaney.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Florence Hungerford, brother John Hungerford, sisters Mary Adams, Pat Steffes and Cleo Hungerford, niece Robin (Hungerford) Taylor, in-laws Kenneth and Bessie Nelson, brothers-in-law Leland and Gerald Nelson.