KOTA Territory NewsFamily asks for help in the search for their son

Family asks for help in the search for their son

Makenzi Henderson

The holidays are a time to spend with family, but imagine if one of your beloved family members was missing.  One Spearfish family is dealing with that reality.  But, they're trying to find their son, and you can help.

Carolyn Johnson says her son, Clinton Nelson, was a jokester.

"He loved when I was mad at him.  He would sit there and make faces and say silly things because he knew I would crack up laughing," Mrs. Johnson said.  

But the last time Johnson laughed with her 21-year-old son, who would be 22 now, was more than a year ago.

"We were talking about his job on the oil rig and how proud of himself he was.  It was just a good conversation," Mrs. Johnson said. 

Nelson disappeared on Sept. 1, 2006 from Princeton, Louisiana, after leaving a friend's house on foot.

"The chances of him being alive are pretty slim," said Nelson's stepfather, Ross Johnson. 

Police did more than three searches, and found nothing, not even a clue.  But the Johnsons won't give up, and are looking for donations and volunteers to go down to Louisiana this January for another search.

"One of the biggest challenges, of course, is to be able to fund it.  We can't personally do it.  A search of this undertaking is very man-power intensive to be able to do it correctly," Mr. Johnson said. 

The Johnson's say they hope the search reveals more information, or just brings some closure.

"It's the unknown that's most difficult to deal with," Mr. Johnson said. 

But now, as the Johnsons prepare for a second Christmas without their son, all they have is memories, and the hope they may hear him joking once again.

"Ross had called up 'Clinton, you need to get ready for school.'  All of a sudden we hear this 'You've reached the message machine of Clinton Nelson, please leave a message after the beep.'  Then, Ross starts talking pretending he's leaving a message and then you hear BEEP!  He cut him off!  He was always doing things like that," Mrs. Johnson said. 

The Johnsons say they would like more than 100 volunteers, and $5,000 by Jan. 1, to conduct the search properly.  If you want to donate, volunteer or have any information on Nelson's disappearance please call the following numbers.

To donate, contact any Northern Hills First Western Bank and ask for information on the Clinton Nelson Search Fund.

To volunteer to travel to Louisiana and join the search, e-mail the Johnson Family at find-clinton@hotmail.com.  Volunteers can also contact "Let's Bring Them Home" at 1 (877) 270-9500. This organization posted a $75,000 reward for information leading to Nelson's whereabouts and the arrest and conviction of any person(s) responsible.

To watch a You Tube video created in Nelson's honor go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z8oV8lfuLE