Nelson Theodore Ramsey

DONNA - On September 19, 2026 Nelson Theodore Ramsey, known by friends and family as “Ted” passed from the mortal world from leukemia at the age of 87 years. While his parents, Corinne Nelson Ramsey and Theodore Ramsey lived in Oakes, North Dakota, Ted was born on August 8, 1939.

From Oakes his family moved to Carrington, North Dakota where Ted grew up and graduated from high school. He attended Minot State College for a year and then enlisted in the U.S. Army for three years. As a military police officer, he spent most of that time in Germany. When he returned from Germany, he became a policeman in Jamestown, North Dakota and then in Grand Forks, North Dakota for a total of 13 years. He married Vonnie Aiperspach in 1963 and they were divorced in 1981. 

After leaving the police force, he became an insurance salesman, did other jobs as a farm hand. In midlife he went back to college and graduated from Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota in 1986 and taught in the Rio Grand Valley. He was a clerk for Circle K until we moved to Donna, Texas in 1997 where he was a maintenance man for Casa Del Sol MH & RV Resort until retirement in 2010.

Ted leaves behind his wife, Karen Wilson Ramsey, of 40 years; his daughter, Darcie Thach (Chau), Auburn, Washington; his son, Mitchel Ramsey, Minot, North Dakota; son Christopher Ramsey (Laurie), Minot North Dakota; step daughter, Heather Jensen Escochea (Eduardo) San Antonio, Texas; nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren and five step-grandchildren; also,Chis brother, John Ramsey (Delores), Rushville, Illinois and Donald Ramsey (Ann), of Chesapeake,CVirginia; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, October 9, 2026, at Rio Grande Valley State Veteran’s Cemetery in Mission, Texas with full military honors. 

Funeral services are under the direction of Legacy Chapels in Edinburg.