James "J.R." Nelson, 78, of Rapid City, died Monday, September 18, 2017 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

J.R. was born on April 13, 1939, in Tyler, Minnesota the son of Wilbur E. and Esther (Koustrup) Nelson.  At the age of 17 he enlisted in the Navy and served active duty for 4 years.  On March 9, 1963, he was united in marriage to Virginia "Ginnie" Bergstrom.

J.R. was an equipment installer for Bell Telephone and retired after 35 years.  He also served in the South Dakota Army Reserve National Guard at Camp Rapid and retired in 1989 after 20 years.

He enjoyed fishing, pheasant and turkey hunting, shooting gophers, gardening, camping and watching CNN and war movies.

Survivors include his son, Les Nelson and his wife Glenda, of Rapid City; his daughter, Tami Quinn and her husband Jerry, of Rapid City; his son-in-law, Tom Eifert, of Rapid City; his brother, Dennis Nelson and his wife Janet, of Winnebago, Minnesota; his sister, Karen Miles, of Minneota, Minnesota; 10 grandchildren, Jayden Quinn, Tanner Fode, Laci Fruit, Justine Quinn, Karissa Eifert, Kalin Eifert, Shanelle Nelson, Shiree Nelson, Baylee Nelson and Eliza Loeschke and 4 great grandchildren, Madi, Micah, Nolan and Kaiden.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ginnie in 2005 and his daughter Teresa Eifert in December of 2015

Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 pm, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am, on Thursday, Sept. 21 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home with Chaplain H.B. Cleveland officiating. Interment will be later at Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors.