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Kenneth R. "Ken" Nielsen Nov 16 2008
Funeral services for Kenneth R. “Ken” Nielsen, age 68, of Hazel, SD will be at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 20, 2008 in the Cornerstone United Methodist Church, Watertown, SD. Pastor Rae Speiser and Mark Luvaas will officiate. Music will be provided by Nona Clifford, organist, and Lory Page, soloist. Ken passed away on Sunday, November 16, 2008 at a care center in Clear Lake, SD. Burial will be in the Hazel Cemetery, Hazel, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be: Ken’s children and grandchildren, SD POA Club, and fellow MN Rubber co-workers. Active pallbearers will be: Pat Gilligan, Allen Williams, Marvin Singrey, Lynn Singrey, Zach Beman, Dwayne Ingalls, Steve Amrhien, Rock Arnold, Bob Carr, and Bob York. Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. and Thursday in the church prior to the services. The family is requested to meet at the church on Thursday by 12: 30 p.m. for a prayer service. Ken was born on April 23, 1940 in Alcorn, IA to Oluf G. and Dorothy J. (Petersen) Nielsen. He attended Massena High School in Massena, IA until age fifteen. Due to his father’s health, he took over full operation of the Circle N Ranch, where he farmed, trained, and raised Appaloosa horses for his father until 1964. In 1965, he moved to rural Hazel and worked on the Beman farm as a farmhand, where he met his wife, Connie. On October 22, 1966 in the United Methodist Church, Hazel, SD, Ken and Connie Beman were married. The couple purchased a small acreage south of Hazel which they named “The Lazy N POA Ranch”. Ken farmed and went to work fulltime for MN Rubber in Watertown, SD until he retired in 1998. His wife, Connie, passed away in 2004. Ken resided at the ranch until the summer of 2008, when he then entered a care center in Clear Lake, SD. Ken was very active with the Appaloosa Horse Association on multiple levels and was active with the National Appaloosa Pony Association in its early years. Ken did inspecting for the Appaloosa Horse Association, the National Appaloosa Pony Association, and the POA Club. Ken was a charter member and was active with POAC since 1955. Ken was still active with his own horses as well as buying, selling, and trading horses. He was a member of Hazel Methodist Church. He was active with 4-H and the MN Rubber Union. Ken enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren. His yearly highlight was the SD State Fair with his family and his ponies. He also enjoyed his dogs. Ken is survived by three sons: Ron Nielsen, Randy Nielsen, and Ryan Nielsen all of Hazel, SD; one daughter, Jody and her husband, Ray Johnson, of Hazel, SD; two sisters: Mary Lou Smith and her friend, Merritt Spry, of Anita, IA and Karen Casey of Council Bluffs, IA, and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Connie; his parents; and two sisters.

Kenneth R. "Ken" Nielsen
Nov 16 2008

Funeral services for Kenneth R. “Ken” Nielsen, age 68, of Hazel, SD will be at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 20, 2008 in the Cornerstone United Methodist Church, Watertown, SD. Pastor Rae Speiser and Mark Luvaas will officiate. Music will be provided by Nona Clifford, organist, and Lory Page, soloist. Ken passed away on Sunday, November 16, 2008 at a care center in Clear Lake, SD.

Burial will be in the Hazel Cemetery, Hazel, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be: Ken’s children and grandchildren, SD POA Club, and fellow MN Rubber co-workers. Active pallbearers will be: Pat Gilligan, Allen Williams, Marvin Singrey, Lynn Singrey, Zach Beman, Dwayne Ingalls, Steve Amrhien, Rock Arnold, Bob Carr, and Bob York.

Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. and Thursday in the church prior to the services. The family is requested to meet at the church on Thursday by 12: 30 p.m. for a prayer service.

Ken was born on April 23, 1940 in Alcorn, IA to Oluf G. and Dorothy J. (Petersen) Nielsen. He attended Massena High School in Massena, IA until age fifteen. Due to his father’s health, he took over full operation of the Circle N Ranch, where he farmed, trained, and raised Appaloosa horses for his father until 1964. In 1965, he moved to rural Hazel and worked on the Beman farm as a farmhand, where he met his wife, Connie.

On October 22, 1966 in the United Methodist Church, Hazel, SD, Ken and Connie Beman were married. The couple purchased a small acreage south of Hazel which they named “The Lazy N POA Ranch”. Ken farmed and went to work fulltime for MN Rubber in Watertown, SD until he retired in 1998. His wife, Connie, passed away in 2004. Ken resided at the ranch until the summer of 2008, when he then entered a care center in Clear Lake, SD. Ken was very active with the Appaloosa Horse Association on multiple levels and was active with the National Appaloosa Pony Association in its early years. Ken did inspecting for the Appaloosa Horse Association, the National Appaloosa Pony Association, and the POA Club. Ken was a charter member and was active with POAC since 1955. Ken was still active with his own horses as well as buying, selling, and trading horses.

He was a member of Hazel Methodist Church. He was active with 4-H and the MN Rubber Union. Ken enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren. His yearly highlight was the SD State Fair with his family and his ponies. He also enjoyed his dogs.

Ken is survived by three sons: Ron Nielsen, Randy Nielsen, and Ryan Nielsen all of Hazel, SD; one daughter, Jody and her husband, Ray Johnson, of Hazel, SD; two sisters: Mary Lou Smith and her friend, Merritt Spry, of Anita, IA and Karen Casey of Council Bluffs, IA, and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Connie; his parents; and two sisters.

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