Lionel Delmar Neilan was born June 11, 1936 in Bonesteel, SD to Martin and Edith Adella (Reinoehl) Neilan.  He died October 11, 2008 at the Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 72 years and 4 months after a long and courageous battle with a very rare disease, Progressive Supra-nuclear Palsy (PSP).
Lionel was baptized on September 7, 1947.  He grew up in Bonesteel, graduating from Bonesteel Public High School in 1955.
In January of 1959 Lionel joined the Army and served until March of 1962.  He received his basic training at Camp Carson in Colorado after which he spent time at Fort Riley in Kansas, Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, and Fort Benning in Georgia and finally overseas in Orleans, France.  Lionel often told stories of sites he visited while on R&R in Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and Holland.  During his time in the Army, Lionel reached the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6).
On July 6, 1963, he married Shirley Vogt.  The couple moved to Rapid City, SD and attended National School of Business where Lionel completed the 18-month Senior Business Administration course.  Upon returning from Rapid City, they purchased the Tee Pee Café in 1965, which they operated for 5 years.  Lionel went on to manage the Bonesteel City Liquor Store during the 1970's.
Lionel became a police officer for the City of Bonesteel for a time and in October of 1980 he became a Gregory County Deputy.  Lionel remained in law enforcement for the county until he retired in 2001.  The couple remained in their Bonesteel home until Shirley passed away in early 2007.  Lionel's failing health took him to live at the Good Samaritan Village Nursing Home in Sioux Falls, SD until his death.
Lionel was a volunteer firefighter for 23 years and an EMT for many years serving on the Bonesteel Ambulance Service.   Lionel was the Bonesteel City Finance Officer for many years.
Lionel was preceded in death by wife Shirley and by his parents, Martin and Edith Adella (Reinoehl) Neilan, brothers Wilbur Neilan and Leo Neilan and sisters Winnadella in infancy, Veldon (Neilan) Reinoehl, Wanda (Neilan) Hebron.
Lionel is survived by his children Marty Neilan and his son Brady of Elm Creek, NE, and Marty's daughter Kenna of Spencer, NE, Misty (Neilan) Farabee and her children Lacey and Mathew of Sioux Falls, SD and Micky and Tammy Neilan and their sons Andrew, Carter and Christopher of  Vermillion, SD.  Brothers Norman Neilan, Pierre, SD, Max Neilan and wife Viola, Bonesteel, SD, Sister Valerie (Neilan) Lundy, Portland, OR, Phyllis (Neilan) and husband Willis Wendell, Sioux Falls, SD, as well as many nieces and nephews and friends.