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Submitted: 1/13/13 • Approved: 1/15/13 • Last Updated: 8/14/15 • R186563-G186563-S3
Birth: Mar. 3, 1870
Manchester
Delaware County
Iowa, USA
Death: Jan. 9, 1949
Sioux Falls
Minnehaha County
South Dakota, USA
Death Claims Mrs.
Nellie Merry, Early
Settler Here
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon for Mrs. Nellie Merry who passed away Monday evening at a Sioux Falls Hospital, following an illness of several months. Services were held at the Lyman Merry home at 1:30 o'clock and at the Methodist Church in Dell Rapids at 2 o'clock, conducted by the pastor, Rev. H.H. Arms.
Music was by Mrs. Edwin Olson and Mrs. Webster Drummond, Jr., who sang "Good Night and Good Morning," and "Abide With Me," Ellsworth Brown sang "The Old Rugged Cross". Rites were conducted by the Rebekah Lodge. Interment was made in the Dell Rapids cemetery. Pallbearers were U.S. Earls, P.F. Wagner, Milton Merry, Arthur Hart, Webster Drummond, Howard Graves.
Nellie G. Williams was born March 3, 1870, at Manchester, Iowa, daughter of H.A. and Carrie Williams. She came to Dell Rapids in 1879 by ox team and covered wagon.
Here she grew to womanhood. Her father operated the old mill on the Sioux River, at the dam site, it being owned at that time by William Van Eps of Sioux Falls.
In 1889 she moved to St. Cloud, Minn.; about 1893 she went to Lyons, Colorado. A year or two later they moved back to South Dakota residing in Dell Rapids and East Sioux Falls at various intervals. In 1905, Sandstone, Minnesota became her home and in 1916 she came back to Dell Rapids where she made her home the remainder of her life.
On June 1st, 1921, she was married to George S. Merry. They made their home on the old Merry homestead east of Dell Rapids until 1926. The boys of the younger generations then took over the farm work, and Mr. and Mrs. Merry moved into Dell Rapids, making their home on the corner of LaDelle and Sixth Street.
On May 15th, 1935, Mr. and Merry passed away. She lived in her home for a number of years until her health began to fail. She then resided at the I.O.O.F. Home for a time, then with Mrs. P. V. Walton and at a nursing home in Sioux Falls.
On September 10th of last year, she became seriously ill and has been confined to McKennan hospital since that time. On the eve of January 9th her suffering came to an end and she slipped quietly away at the age of 78 years, 10 months, 6 days.
Mrs. Merry was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and a charter member of the Rebekah Lodge.
She was preceded in death by eight children who died in infancy, by a former marriage; five brothers and three sisters, Mrs. W.R. Sullivan of Iowa Falls, Iowa, being the sole member of the family remaining.
She leaves to mourn her departure her sister and her step-children, Mrs. P.V. Walton (Mildred) of Sioux Falls, Lyman Merry of Dell Rapids and Mrs. H.A. Johnson (Isabel) of Fruitland, New Mexico. One son, Robert H. Merry having passed away October 9, 1942. To these and their immediate families she had become greatly endeared a mother and grandmother. Her nieces, Mary and Nellie Simpson reside at Belleville, Ill.
Mrs. Merry was a pioneer of Dell Rapids and vicinity and down through the years she has made a most of friends who regret her passing.
Dell Rapids Tribune January 13, 1949
Nellie divorced John, then married George June 1, 1921 Minnehaha Co., SD. George and Nellie did not have any children.
Contributed on 1/13/13 by dellsfig68
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Record #: 186563