Olga M. Nelson, 103, of Spearfish (but mostly Lead), passed away on Saturday, December 23, 2023.

Olga Marie Ghirardini was born on Saturday, October 2, 1920, in Sanzeno, Trento, Italy, to Giorgio and Angelina Ghirardini. At the age of thirteen months, Olga and her parents left their ancestral home of Samoclevon and traveled by land for Trieste on the Adriatic Sea where they boarded the liner "President Wilson" for their ocean journey to the United States.

On November 26, 1921, Olga entered New York Harbor under the watchful eye of the Statue of Liberty and proceeded through immigration at Ellis Island where the family name was shortened to Girardi. After a few years in Colorado and Montana, Olga, and her family...which now included a younger brother, Charlie...settled in the community of Lead, which would be her home for more than ninety years.

After graduating from Lead High School in 1940, Olga worked for a time as a telephone operator before marrying the love of her life, John Edward Nelson, on April 22, 1943, in Broadus, Montana. When World War II ended the couple settled back in Lead where she raised her family and became a much-loved part of the community. She was a member of Saint Patrick's Catholic Church, St. Patrick's Altar Society, Historic Homestake Opera House Society, Deadwood History, Hilltop Extension Club and was a Cub Scout Leader….among many other things. She was always up for any adventure…especially if it included grandchildren, sports or wine!

In April of 2018, at the age of 97, Olga decided to move out of her home of 68 years to join the caring community of Edgewood Vista in Spearfish.

Olga was preceded in death by her husband, John, her brother Charlie and by just about everybody else! Surviving and blessed with having her in their lives are her three children: Judy (Allan) Weaver, Ft. Collins, CO, Jerry (Velda) Nelson, Belle Fourche, and Tom (Melodee) Nelson, Sioux Falls, her seven grandchildren: David Weaver, Lisa Nelson, Avery Nelson, Manda Hull, Abigayle Deville, AJ Nelson and Benjamin Nelson, and her 15 great-grandchildren: Raven, Nathan, Connor, Christian, Yulrick, Leo, Jo, Mattias, Minnie, Zoe, Johnathyn, Michael, Maxwell, Van and Eve.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Lead with interment at Black Hills National Cemetery to follow. A memorial will be established for the Historic Homestake Opera House. A celebration of life is being planned for sometime later when there isn't three feet of snow on the ground!

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com