HURON — Nell E. Tollefson, 95, of Huron, went to her heavenly home on Saturday, February 3, 2018, at the Violet Tschetter Memorial Home.
A celebration of Nell’s life will begin at 1 p.m., Friday, February 9, at First United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be two hours prior to the memorial service Friday at the First United Methodist Church.
Nell E. Schanck was born June 19, 1922, to Rose (Wolkow) and Walter Schanck in Erwin. She graduated from Erwin High School in 1940. Nell graduated from Yankton College with her State Elementary Teaching certificate in 1942. She moved to Huron where she taught 5th grade for 45 years at Wilson and Buchanan Schools. Nell earned a BA from Huron College in 1956. She was honored to be asked to join the Annie D.Tallent Club now called Honored Women Educators.  
Nell was a member of the First United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday school.     
Nell married LaVerne Tollefson October 15, 1948. LaVerne was wounded in action during WWII and received the Purple Heart. He taught and coached at Bonilla, Yale, and was Guidance Counselor at Huron Senior High School until they both retired from education. Over the years, they treasured the companionship of three special dogs: Poochie, Boomer, and Thumper.
One of Nell’s greatest joys was writing poetry. In her poems, Nell expressed her deep gratitude for God, her beloved husband, her relatives, her school children, her dogs, and many friends with whom precious years have been spent. Nell and Tolly celebrated 67 years together before Tolly passed away on November 9, 2015.  
Nell Tollefson is survived by her niece, Charlene (Lewis) Bainbridge and family of Ethan; three nephews, Larry, Terry, and Bryce Tenold and their families of Calif.; sister-in-law, Melba Sorben and her family of Huron; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; infant brother, Edward; her brother, John who died in a prison camp in the Philippines during WWII; two sisters and their husbands, Margaret (Mel) Tenold, and Mildred (Harold) Nelson; and nephew, Lonnie Nelson.
Nell’s family expresses special thanks to Dr. Robert Hohm and the staff at Violet Tschetter Memorial Home for the care given to our dear Nell.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the music department or the children and youth department at the First United Methodist Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Kuhler Funeral Home.
Visit www.kuhlerfuneral.com
Paid Obituary