Nellie Martha Allen

Nellie Deiter Allen, 101, formerly of Redfield, SD, passed away on January 22, 2024, at Morning Star Memory Care in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Nellie was born to Effie Bruins and Nelson Rawstern on July 10, 1922. She married John Deiter on January 27, 1945 in Downers Grove, IL. They were married 50 years at the time of his death on March 3, 1995. She married Doane Allen on July 24, 1999, in Loveland, CO.

Nellie was the oldest of 5 children, living on a farm in the Crandon, SD area. As a young girl, she was plowing behind a horse when the dust bowl hit. She unhitched the horse, and they luckily made it back to the house, as she could see nothing in front of her. That, and the great depression made for rough times in her early years. She graduated from Redfield High School where she played the cello in the orchestra. During high school, she lived in a boarding house and did house cleaning to pay for it. She intended to join the WACs in the military, but as fate would have it, she married her husband John, and they had four children. She lived on the farm/airport east of Redfield, where she could be found working in the field, feeding/herding cattle, fixing farm equipment, or preparing the next meal. She achieved the goal of soloing for her pilot's license but flew only a few times. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge and Eastern Star and held the office of State President in the Rebekah's. In the '70's she drove school bus for Redfield schools. Volunteering was important to her, she spent many hours working at the Redfield Senior Center and the Lutheran church where she was a member. In 2016, she moved to Colorado to be closer to family. She lived with her oldest daughter until she needed more care, then moved into a memory care facility. Some of her favorite things were family time, babies, chocolate, coffee, and bacon. Nellie made the best pies.

Surviving are her children: Allen (Loretta) Deiter of Tulsa, OK, Joe Deiter of Casper WY, Carol Theilgaard of Timnath, CO, and Barb (Dave) Beichley of Fort Collins, CO; six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren. She is survived by one sister, MaryAnn Stroschein, Sturgis, SD. She was preceded in death by both husbands; three sisters, Lillian Nissen, Berneice Siebrecht and Violet Siebrecht, and one grandson, Trevor Deiter.

If desired, memorials can be directed to the Redfield Senior Center, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, or a charity of your choice.