Funeral service for Nelson Little Bear, 54, of McLaughlin, will be held at 1:00 pm (CT), Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the McLaughlin School Gymnasium. Burial will be in the All-Nations Veteran Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be held from 5-9 pm, Friday, March 6, at the School Gym in McLaughlin with a prayer service to be held at 7:00 pm. A procession will leave Kesling Funeral Home on Friday, March 6 at 4:00 pm (CT), all family and friends are invited to join. Nelson passed away, Thursday, February 19, 2026, at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck leaving his family & many friends to journey with his daughter Alethea Little Bear & his loved ones.

Nelson Colin Little Bear was born in Fort Yates, North Dakota on June 4th, 1971, to Elias Little Bear & Wilma Taken Alive. After his parents passing, he was raised by his Grandmother Florence White, where he grew up in Little Eagle on the Standing Rock Reservation riding motorcycles, shooting guns, fishing & hanging out with his friends & family.

The year before graduating from Standing Rock High School in 1990, he met Elaine Rousseau on February 17. Their love grew welcoming their first baby girl, Alethea Jenice on May 2, 1991 & another baby girl Danielle on October 16, 1992. In 1993 he joined the United States Marine Corps & the following year on March 5, 1994, he married Elaine and moved to California where they welcomed Shelby. After being discharged Nelson worked various jobs like brandings, fence work, and even some carpentry. With his family back in South Dakota, Nelson & Elaine welcomed their first boy Phillip Duane on October 26, 1998. Settling in White Horse, South Dakota, their baby girl Peyton Emily was welcomed on September 25, 2000. In 2002 Nelson worked hard & was able to get his CDL to begin driving trucks for Jensen's Rock & Sand for 13+ years, during which their baby girl Camryn Avery was born on July 21, 2004 & lastly, they welcomed the baby Chance Doug on March 7, 2009.

While raising his family, he relocated to live in Mclaughlin, South Dakota where he worked for the McLaughlin School driving a bus till he retired due to his health. He spent the remainder of his life sharing his love for his animals: Gracie, Olivia, Diggs & Diamond motorcycles, guns, & fishing with his kids teaching them all. If he wasn't working or spending time with his kids or grandbabies, he was watching his all-time favorite team The New York Buffalo Bills.

Of all the accomplishments in his life, he was greatest at being a father.  There is so much he left behind; we know he'd give anything to be here for. Meeting another grandbaby or two, watching all his grandbabies grow, watching his baby son complete & graduate high school to join the Marine Corps, & daughter to walk down the aisle so she could marry the love of her life.

Nelson lives on through his Wife Elaine & children Danielle(Anthony), Shelby(Kansas), Phillip(Lareina), Peyton(Gregg), Camryn(Tyson), & Chance(Arran). Grand children Athen, Ryatt, Landon, Phillip Jr, Klay, Skarlett, Tenzin, Teal, Copelin, On the way, Nelson, & Baby Boy Little Bear/Hernandez.

He Journeys with his Daughter Alethea, Mom & Dad Elias & Wilma, His Grandma Florence, Siblings Delores, Bob, Maurice, April, & Numerous Aunts, Uncles, Cousins Family & Friends.