Nobel Veal

Nobel Thomas Veal passed away on June 26, 2026, at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Rapid City, South Dakota, with his beloved wife, Marguerite, at his side. Nobel lived a long and fulfilling life, passing at 93 years of age. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Nobel Thomas Veal was born on June 16, 1933, in Lemmon, South Dakota, to Martha (Hulm) and Edward Veal. He grew up on the family farm at Chance, South Dakota, located southeast of Bison in Perkins County. He attended Chance rural elementary school and graduated from Lemmon High School in 1951.

He attended South Dakota State University from 1951 to 1953, then served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1955. He returned to South Dakota State University and graduated in 1958 with a degree in Economics.

Following graduation, Nobel went to work as an agricultural statistician with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Helena, Montana. It was there that he met Marguerite McCormick. They were married on July 8, 1961, in Butte, Montana, and immediately moved to Washington, D.C., where Nobel worked with the USDA as a computer specialist.

Nobel and his family lived in Northern Virginia for 13 years, during which time four children were born. In 1974, they moved back to the family ranch in Perkins County, South Dakota, where they lived until retirement in 2004, when they relocated to Rapid City, South Dakota.

Nobel was always deeply interested in agriculture and ranching. His greatest satisfaction was raising quality cattle. He was actively involved in the community and was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone.

Nobel served as a Perkins County Commissioner for eight years, as a Director at Dacotah Bank in Lemmon, as a Member of the Perkins County Fair Board, and as a Member of the Rapid City Morning Optimist Club.

Survivors

Nobel is survived by his wife, Marguerite Veal, of Rapid City; his children: Mike (Barbara) Veal, Julie (Dalton) Stewart, Eric (Angie) Veal, and Brad (Tammi) Veal; eight grandchildren: Drew, Rhea, Lily, Eva, Chandler, Jack, Alec, and Isabella; one brother, Reid (Elizabeth) Veal; one brother-in-law, James (Marilyn) McCormick; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Preceded in Death

Nobel was preceded in death by his parents, Martha and Ed Veal; infant daughter Louise Veal; infant brother LeRoy Veal; brother Dean Veal; sister-in-law Jean McCormick; and brother-in-law Fr. Frank McCormick.