Glen Lyman Nielson passed away at home in Caldwell, Idaho on March 10, 2015 at the age of 97. Glen was born in Oak City, Utah November 12, 1917, the middle son of Peter N. and Caroline Ely Anderson Nielson. He grew up on the small family farm in Oak City, surrounded by a large extended family. He had poor health as a baby and was not strong enough to walk until he was two and a half years old. Once he started walking he never stopped, regularly walking three to four miles a day well into his 90's. After graduating from Delta High School Glen attended Utah State University and the University of Utah. His education was interrupted by WWII, during which Glen worked at Hill Field Air Force Base in the Aircraft Receiving and Delivery Branch of the Flight Test Section. Following the war he finished his education at Utah State, graduating in 1947 with a degree in Agronomy. While at Utah State he met Marie Sorensen and they were married in the Logan LDS Temple on June 14, 1948. After graduating from USU Glen accepted a job with the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a soil scientist in North Idaho. This is where Glen and Marie made their first home and lived until they moved to the Lost River Valley, south of Mackay, in December 1950. In Mackay, Glen worked for the Idaho State Department of Education teaching vocational agriculture until he joined the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in 1952. Their first son, Glen Wesley, was born while they were living in North Idaho, and while living in the Lost River Valley he was joined by Steven Douglas, Margaret and Susan Marie. In 1959, Glen was transferred to Gooding, where the family lived until another transfer with the SCS took them to Caldwell in 1966. One of his career highlights came in 1976 when he was sent by the government to assist with soil conservation practices in Afghanistan. Glen and Marie made Caldwell their home for 47 years, until Marie passed away in 2013. They took a great deal of pride in their yard and garden, with Glen growing a large corn and melon patch that he enjoyed sharing with his family and many friends. Glen's retirement from the SCS in 1977 gave him and Marie the chance to travel and to spend more time serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1980-81 they served a mission in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and when the Boise LDS Temple was completed in 1984, they were called as temple workers, where they faithfully served for the following 20 years. They loved to travel and after Glen's retirement were able to visit much of the World. Glen loved the outdoors and spent as much time as he could hunting, fishing and camping in their travel trailer. He loved the Boy Scout program and spent several years as Scoutmaster. In 1964 he attended Philmont National Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He was very outgoing and a friend to everyone he met. Glen was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Marie and his brother Byron. He is survived by his four children: Wesley (Beth) of Boise, Steven (Carrie) of Boise, Margaret (Allan) Mitchell of Caldwell and Susan (Ken) Duncan of Omaha, Nebraska; 15 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren; and his brother Robert of Fillmore, Utah. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 14 at the Caldwell Sixth Ward LDS Chapel, 3015 South Kimball Ave, Caldwell. A viewing will be held at the church from 10 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will be at the Logan Cemetery in Logan, Utah. Arrangements are under the direction of Zeyer Funeral Chapel, Nampa. 467-7300. Condolences may be expressed at zeyerfuneralchapel.com. Service: Saturday, March 14, 2015 11:00 a.m. Caldwell Sixth Ward LDS Chapel 3015 South Kimball Avenue Caldwell, Idaho Visitation: 10 to 10:45 a.m. Prior to the Services At the Church
Add comment