Rodney Lee Nielsen, of Chandler, Arizona, passed away on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

Rod was born Aug. 10, 1934, in Ideal, South Dakota. His parents moved to Windom, Minnesota, the following year and he spent his childhood and youth helping on the family farm. He participated in 4-H, church activities, and high school basketball and baseball. He graduated from Windom High School in 1952.