Carroll D. Nelson, 72, passed away on September 14, 2016. He was born "before the cows came home" in a rural Carthage, SD farmhouse on May 25, 1944, the only child of Russell and Ruby (Wehr) Nelson. He graduated from Carthage High School in 1962, the valedictorian of a small graduating class. While attending Huron College, he was proficient in time management: tending the cows morning and evening, attending classes during the day, working in the projection room at the movie theater, organizing epic pranks, and excelling in athletics before graduating in 1966 with a degree in history. He married Karen Ketel in 1967, and taught school and coached wresting and football in Tyndall and Winner, SD, and in Sioux City, IA. He then moved back to South Dakota, owning several small businesses in Rapid City, before moving to San Bernardino, CA in 1989 to teach physical education at Serrano Middle School, then US History at San Bernardino High. Upon retirement in 2004, he and Karen moved back to the Hills to spend time camping, fishing, and visiting with family and friends. He is survived by daughter Julie Navarro (Fred) and grandson Alexander of San Bernardino, and his son Mike Nelson (Amanda) of Rapid City. He is preceded in death by his parents, and Karen, his wife of 47 years.