February 15, 1938 – March 29, 2022
Funeral services for Willard Nash, 84, of Timber Lake were held Saturday, April 2, 2022 at the Isabel Community Center. Burial was at Hillview Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Willard passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND.
Willard Lloyd Nash was born on February 15, 1938, in Mobridge to William and Mary (Meginness) Nash. He joined three brothers, Louis, Edward, and Francis on the family farm northeast of Firesteel and was later joined by a sister, Bertha Lou.
Willard spent his early years in the Firesteel area living with aunts and uncles and his brother, Francis.
He attended schools in Timber Lake, Firesteel, Isabel, Deadwood, Pluma, SD, and Alexandria,VA. After graduating from Isabel High School in 1956, Willard worked with his brother, Edward, cutting timber in the Black Hills during the summer. The fall of 1956 found him working on the ranch of Ole Drageset west of Isabel.
In September of 1957, Willard enrolled at South Dakota State College in Brookings taking general courses. While in Brookings he would often hitch hike home so he could get back to see the love of his life, Kay Miller.
On November 15, 1958, Willard and Kay were married at a private ceremony in Pierre. They moved to Lantry, where Willard started teaching grades one through eight. The following year, Willard and Kay taught at the Morristown School in 1961. They moved to Isabel, where he taught in Isabel while she taught at the Butte View School west of Glad Valley.
In the fall of 1964, Willard and Kay began teaching in Trail City and Timber Lake. In 2003, Kay retired early due to her diagnosis of Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Willard remained in the Timber School system until his retirement in 2007. He taught math, science, computer science, and was K-12 guidance counselor, elementary principal and director of technology. Willard was instrumental in implementing many technological changes within the school, including wiring the new addition to the school.
After retiring in 2007, Willard became interested in the restoration of old tractors, mowers, plows, threshers and assorted farm related equipment.
Willard and Kay had three children: Colle, Brian and Roxane. Family meant the world to Willard. His grandchildren became an important part of his life after Kay passed away in 2005.
Willard was an amazing storyteller. No matter who you were, if he had known you for many years or for only a few hours, you were guaranteed to hear a story.
For the past year and a half, Willard resided at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon until his death on Tuesday, March 29.
Grateful to have shared his life are his children: Colle (Penny) Nash, Brian (Lisa) Nash, and Roxane (Tim) Alley; grandchildren: Sara Nash, Drew (Regan) Nash, Tanner (Shelby) Nash, Melissa (Casey) Aberle, Garrett Nash, LaShae Nash, Troy (Whitney) Alley, Ryan (Carly) Alley, Justene Alley, and Jessica Alley; great-grandchildren Lincoln Aberle, Trevor Aberle, Jessa Aberle, Kara Aberle, Harper Alley, Layla Alley and Baker Alley; sister Bertha Lou Manning; half-sister Marie Nash; step-brother Don Hieb; step-sister Dorothy Thompson; and special cousins Ruth Schmidt and Delores Krueger.
Preceding Willard in death are his wife of 47 years, Kay Miller Nash; his parents; father and mother-in-law, Frank and Esther Miller; brothers Louis, Edward, and Francis; halfbrother Bill Nash; sisters-in-law Bonita Ehly, Dora Finley, Shirley Peterson, Dorothy Peterson, and Betty Nash; brothers-in-law Steve Manning, Ben Ehly, and Bud Finley; and many uncles, aunts and cousins.