April 13, 1928 – August 24, 2022
Delmer “Del” Edward Nystedt was born on April 13, 1928, to Edward and Jennie Nystedt. He would become the oldest of 8 children, father of 5, grandfather of 7, and dear friend to many. He was married 73 years to the love of his life, Carol.
After graduating from high school in Milaca, MN, in 1946, Del took his strong work ethic and aptitude for math and business, on the road, working for the summer as a farmhand in Nebraska and then returning to North Dakota, where he had worked on farms the three summers prior to graduation. After the 1947 harvest season, he landed a job at a furniture store in Mayville, ND, and asked a local farmer’s daughter, Carol Enger, to spend her life with him. The couple married on November 27, 1948.
Del built a career in the furniture business: 8 years in Mayville, where three of the couple’s children were born; 12 years in Fargo, where two more children arrived; and 27 years in Bismarck.
In December 1967, during Del’s tenure as vice president of Coleman Furniture in Fargo, a fire destroyed the store, and the company did not rebuild. This time, the entire family of 7 took to the road.
In May 1968, Del and two business partners—Wayne Noren and Harold Linke—purchased a furniture store in downtown Bismarck, renaming it Trio Interiors. They sold high-end furnishings, carpet, draperies, and wallpaper and provided interior-design services. The partners sold Trio’s entire inventory, fixtures and equipment and closed the business in 1987. Del continued to work in Bismarck, at Conlin’s Furniture from 1988 to 1994, during which time he and Carol began spending ever-increasing lengths of time in Arizona during the winters.
Upon Del’s and Carol’s full retirement in 1995, they moved to Viewpoint Golf Resort, a retirement community in Mesa, AZ, where their door was always open for family and friends. They stayed connected to their roots, spending 2 weeks every summer for 9 years volunteering for the Theodore Roosevelt Medora
Foundation, at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and traveling to visit with family and friends across the country.
Del held his loved ones close in his heart, where his Christian faith had taken root when he was a child and grown steadfast. He was an active servant at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in Fargo, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bismarck, and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Mesa.
Del was the social-bridge coordinator at Viewpoint for 20- plus years, an avid sports fan—Go Vikings!, and never tired of playing cards and dominoes, drinking morning coffee with his buddies, or enjoying Carol’s cooking.
Not one who readily used words to express his affections, Del often relied on his endearing smile—mischievous and loving —and his wholehearted bear hugs to communicate. But he was never at a loss for words when taking pride in his family or joyfully reminiscing.
On August 24, 2022, Del, at 94, again hit the road … to meet his Lord. He was preceded in death by his parents; his eldest son, Larry; his granddaughter Alexandra; 4 sisters, 1 brother, and 2 brothers-in-law.
Cherishing his memory are his wife Carol; children: Doreen, Brad (Karen), Kevin (Cindy), and Todd (Sheri) Nystedt; grandchildren: Kendal, Stefan (Sarah), Alexis, Nathan, Hunter, and Makenna Nystedt; siblings Elaine (Daine) Horton, Duane (Diane) Nystedt; and sister-in-law Clea (Shannon) Rickert, along
with many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Family and friends will gather at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Mesa and at Viewpoint Resort in Mesa on January 7, 2023, to celebrate Del and reminisce joyfully.
Memorials made in Del’s honor will be sent to Traditions Hospice of Scottsdale, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, and Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation
