Nellie O'Dea

Nellie Omdahl was born July 2, 1926, on a ranch south of Cottonwood, South Dakota, to Mandus and Sylvia Mabel (Scotvold) Omdahl.

She grew up on the ranch south of Cottonwood and received her elementary education at the Big Buffalo Country School.  She then attended Cottonwood High School for three years prior to graduating from Kadoka High School in 1944.

After her father's death, Nellie remained on the ranch where she helped her mother raise her younger brother and sisters.

She was united in marriage to Lawrence O'Dea on December 21, 1950, at Philip, South Dakota.  They ranched south of Cottonwood until the spring of 1969, when they moved into Philip.

Since 1974, Nellie has managed the Dakota Bar in Philip. 

She was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Philip.  Nellie was an avid card player, especially Gin and Pitch.

Grateful for having shared her life are a special friend, Dave Schofield of Philip; one son, Dr. Douglas O'Dea of Memphis, Tennessee; two daughters, Bernice (Mrs. Roger) Clary of Lewisville, Texas, and Bonnie (Mrs. Greg) Fitzgerald of Philip; five grandchildren, Shawn, Scott and Brittany Fitzgerald, Jason O'Dea Clary and Rachael O'Dea; two brothers, Vernon Omdahl of Philip, and Thomas Omdahl of Newell, South Dakota; five sisters, Florence (Mrs. Faye) Dean of Philip, Esther (Mrs. Albert) Buhring of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Helen Michael and Mabel (Mrs. Larry) Brunner, both of Sun City Arizona, and Grace (Mrs. Melvin) O'Dea of Sugar City, Colorado; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Nellie was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Oliver Omdahl, and one sister, Lucille Omdahl.

Services
Monday, January 16, 1989
2:00 p.m.
First Lutheran Church
Philip, South Dakota

Officiating
Reverend Bruce Falksen

Music
Lorna Wheeler - Organist
Joyce Wheeler and
Lyndy Ireland - Vocalists

Ushers
Dennis Kennedy - Cliff Fees

Active Pallbearers
Vint Williams - Mike Williams
Ron Couch - Kenny Dietrich
Durward Wheeler - Lauren Thorson

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota

Service Details

Services
Monday, January 16, 1989
2:00 p.m.
First Lutheran Church in Philip