Nancy J. Veglahn, 80, of Sioux Falls, SD passed away on Friday, October 6, 2017 at Sanford/USD Medical Center.

Memorial service will be 11:00 am Saturday, October 14, at First United Methodist Church, 401 S. Spring Ave.

Memorial visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 5:00 – 7:00 pm Friday, October 13, at Miller Funeral Home-Downtown, 507 S. Main Ave.

Nancy Jean Crary was born on July 17, 1937, in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Ralph and Margaret Crary.  She attended the Sioux City public school, Morningside College, South Dakota State University, and the Bread Loaf School of English.

She married Don Veglahn on August 24, 1958.  As a wife of a Methodist pastor, she lived in Howard, Spearfish, Brookings, and Sioux Falls.

Nancy Veglahn was an avid reader all her life, and her professional career reflects that passion.  She was the author of fifteen published books for young readers, as well as many poems and stories published in various journals.  Three of her books earned the designation of Outstanding Science Book for Children from the Children's Book Council, and one was included on the Books for the Teen Age list of the New York Public Library.  She was named South Dakota Author of the Year in 1988 by the South Dakota Council of Teachers of English.

She taught English at South Dakota State University from 1977 to 1992 and at the University of Sioux Falls from 1992 to 1997.  While at SDSU, she received the F.W. Butler Faculty Award for Creative Activity.  She was awarded an honorary doctorate by Dakota Wesleyan University in 1989.  Morningside College gave her its Outstanding Alumnus in 1975 .

In 1988, Nancy Veglahn, Kay Coddington, and Katherine Ann Talley founded the Book Shop in Sioux Falls.
Nancy Veglahn was one of the founders of the Sister Cities Association of Sioux Falls.  She was also a member of First United Methodist Church, the League of Women Voters, and Chapter CI of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.  She served terms on the Sioux Falls Public Library Board.  She served on the Board of Trustees of Dakota Wesleyan University from 1991 to 1997.  In 2006-2007, she was President of the South Dakota League of Women Voters.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Bruce, and her husband, Don.  She is survived by her son Dan of Kansas City, daughter Ruth Barrett (Michael) of Rapid City, and two grandchildren.

Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church of Sioux Falls, to Morningside College or to the Nancy Veglahn Creative Writing scholarship at South Dakota State University.