Rodney Nelson

Rodney Price Nelson, age 87, passed away Sunday, April 6, 2025 at his home in Overton, Nevada. He was born March 8, 1938 in Payson, Utah to Charles Andrew and Reva McKinney Nelson. On July 22, 1963 he married Kathleen Kaye Hunter in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Rod grew up in Spanish Fork, Utah. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the North Central States Mission, including part of Canada. After his mission, he earned his bachelor’s degree from BYU, and received a master’s degree from Northern Arizona University. After meeting in California, Rod and Kathy lived in Northern California, then Las Vegas, Nevada, and then moved to Overton in 1976. Rod taught elementary school for a total of 36 years, teaching the third grade for over 30 years, including teaching some of his own children. Over those years, he and Kathy also had eleven children born to their family, three daughters and eight sons. After retiring, he substituted at the high school where he enjoyed talking sports with the youth. He enjoyed attending Moapa Valley Pirate games supporting the youth that he came in contact with.

Rod loved sports. He especially loved his BYU Cougars. He enjoyed being on the sideline at the Pirates games as part of the chain gang. He loved going to Cougar Stadium in Provo and visiting other stadiums across the nation. He loved road trips and exploring waterfalls and National Parks. He loved his family and loved spending time with his grandchildren and supporting his family in all of their activities. He and Kathy made it to almost every grandchild’s baptism and graduation, and any major event in the lives of their children, traveling all over the country, and sometimes overseas. They also enjoyed the opportunity to serve as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where dad finally tried something spicier than black pepper. During the last several years of his life, Rod loved serving as a temple worker in the Las Vegas Temple where he served with many friends.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy; seven sons and three daughters: Jeff (Brandie) of Peoria, AZ; Aaron (Michelle) of Henderson, NV; Aileena Perez of Logandale; Rory (Tracie) of Overton; Travis (Karen) of Bonaire, GA; Karleena (James) Landini of Logandale; Jared (Maryanne) of Iowa City, IA; Sean (Cara) of Temecula, CA; Tyler (Lindsey) of Las Vegas; Chareena of Iowa City, IA; 49 grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; sister, Karen Hazel of Springville, UT and brother, Dennis (BJ) of Draper, UT. He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Steve; son-in-law, Joe Perez; brother, Larry and sister, June.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Overton Chapel, 226 W. Thomas Street, Overton. Visitation will be Friday, April 18, 2025 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Moapa Valley Mortuary and again from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. prior to services at the chapel. Interment will follow in the Pioneer Hill Memorial Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to sign our online guest book at www.moapavalleymortuary.com