Troy Nelson

On Saturday, April 4, 2020, hard-working, dedicated, and loving husband and father, Troy Douglas Fredrick Nelson passed away at the age of 53 years, 3 months, and 23 days from complications due to kidney disease and Covid-19. Troy was born in Sioux Falls, SD on December 13, 1966 to Clifford and Joyce Nelson of Montrose, SD. Troy attended school at Salem Public School and Salem High School, graduating in 1985. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from South Dakota State University in 1990 and his Masters of Science degree from Mississippi State University in 2002. Troy married his high school sweetheart, Mary Ann Pulse in 1987, and together they had five children. Troy worked for a local farmer in high school and took various jobs, including pizza delivery, running sound equipment at ball games, student teaching, and testing hospital equipment in college. After college, Troy took a job in Vicksburg, MS with the US Army Corps of Engineers at Waterways Experiment Station, where he programmed, tested, and maintained aquatic instruments. Troy received several commendations for exemplary service and ingenuity at this position. While in Vicksburg, Troy ran a small business selling beer and wine making equipment in addition to his full-time job. Troy and Mary longed to return to the Midwest with their young son, and Troy became employed as an engineer in Hull, IA with a company that built scales. After that Troy worked in Sioux Falls as a programmer for a banking software company. During this time, Troy became ill with Polycystic Kidney Disease. Troy taught classes at National American University and Colorado University for several years while waiting for his kidney transplant and after. He also had a small business fixing computer problems. When Troy was recovered from the transplant, he was employed by Interstates Control Systems, Inc. of Sioux City, IA. He worked for a while at that branch then moved to their Sioux Falls branch where he worked from then on as a programmer writing code for manufacturing plant control systems.
Troy maintained a small farm after moving back to South Dakota. He loved the farm. Putting up hay, taking care of the livestock, and working on equipment was one of his greatest joys. He looked forward to retirement when he could work on his farm every day. Troy was a very talented musician. He wrote many songs, played the bass guitar and the saxophone. He even learned to sing while in college. Troy was in several bands through the years, but the one closest to his heart was, “The Cinch”, with Mark Koch, Scott Pearson, and Mary, his wife. They recorded one CD and self published it for family and friends. Troy was also looking forward to more time to play his bass and saxophone with his friends. Troy was very intelligent and a true handyman. He could fix anything that needed fixing, including devising solutions to problems on the farm, at work, and in life. He loved to tinker with electronics especially, and he also dabbled in alternative energy. He built computers, handy gadgets, and even installed an oxygen booster in his car for better gas mileage. Troy, along with his wife Mary, owned rental properties, and he was the handyman and treasurer for that business.
Troy was a very private man, keeping his physical pain, emotions, and spiritual beliefs mostly to himself. He had a great sense of humor, and was always thinking of ways to make his friends and family laugh. Though he had a hard time showing it openly, Troy deeply loved each of his children, his wife, family, and friends. He didn’t have a lot of extra energy to spare, but he did what he could to help friends and family. In their turns, Troy taught each of his children how to repair and maintain a vehicle and many other farm and life skills. He will be greatly missed, and as long as those who love him survive, there will remain a void where Troy should be.
Troy was preceded in death by his father, Clifford Nelson of Montrose; an infant brother; and infant son Quade Troy Nelson. Those mourning Troy are his wife Mary of nearly 33 years; son Quinton Nelson of Sioux Falls; daughters Alana Nelson of Sioux Falls, Adara Nelson, and Alora Nelson, both of Montrose; mother Joyce Nelson of Salem; sisters Donna (Kurt) Fink of Plankinton, SD, Betty (Tom) Andreas of New Philadelphia, OH; Barb (Jimmy) Salmon of Vicksburg, MS; Sandy (Jim) Koch of Salem and Doris (Bill) Ranney of Vermillion, SD; many in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and co-workers too numerous to name, but not forgotten.
Due to quarantine of family members, services for Troy will be held at a date to be announced later.