November 25, 1970 – January 24, 2024
Lisa Ganje Nelson passed away January 24, 2024 in Rapid City.
Lisa was born in Eagle Butte on November 25, 1970 to David Dewitt Ganje and Colette Norma (Opp) Ganje. As a young girl, she lived in various places in South Dakota, wherever her father's flight career took them. Lisa, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, enjoyed being outside at her grandparents’ ranch south of Ridgeview, where she dug wild turnips, helped her grandma garden, played with farm animals, and helped with chores.
Following the death of her father in 1977, her mother moved the family to Fort Pierre to be near her sister and close friends. Colette met Vince Maher, whom she later married, and he brought his children with him into the family. They moved to Mobridge where Lisa attended school through her junior year. Her senior year, she transferred to St. Mary’s Catholic School in New England, ND, graduating in 1989. She then attended Stewart School of Hairstyling in Aberdeen, finding her passion for cosmetology. Lisa worked for many years in Spearfish at various salons.
She met the love of her life, Gary Nelson, at her salon. They were married on November 2, 1998 in Jamaica. They returned to make their home in Newell and began a family. As Gary’s partner on the Nelson Family Farm, Lisa helped drive combines, moved machinery, and brought food to family and crews.
Lisa attended St. Mary’s, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church where she taught Catholic education classes, assisted with Altar Society, and was a confirmation sponsor. She also served on the SD Horizons Rural Project Steering Committee, Belle Fourche Area Head Start Board, Newell’s Parent/Teacher Organization, and Newell Community Club.
Lisa is survived by her husband, Gary of Newell; son Nicholas of Wichita, KS; daughter Abigail of Colorado Springs, CO; sisters Deneen (Carson) Redd of Spearfish and Tracie (Shane) Clark of Rapid City; brother Michael Ganje of Eagle Butte; stepsister Jill (Steve) Everson of Aberdeen; aunts Lucy (Sharon Carson) Ganje, Francie Ganje, Marie Long, Tina (Robert) Clement, and Sheila Ganje; mother-in-law Alberta Nelson; sistersin- law Sherry, Iona, Rosalyn, and Rosalie; and brother-in-law John.
Lisa is preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents, Norman and Ione Opp and Ben and Marj Ganje; stepbrother Troy Maher; uncles Jon Ganje and August Opp; aunt Harriet Glassmaker, and stepfather Vince Maher.