Niels Nielson

    Clarence Niels Nielson, age 77, of Montwell, died March 1, 2017, from pancreatic cancer, in Mesa, Arizona, at the home of Edward Jimenez, a nephew.
    He was born in Montwell on February 5, 1940, to John and Mazie Alexander Nielson.  He was the third of ten children. He attended Chandler High (‘58), and Arizona State College (’60-62, music).  He married Linda Smith on September 25, 1959, in the Salt Lake City Temple and they divorced in 1969. They had four children. He married Geraldine “Geri” Veronica Jimenez on November 26, 1969, and they had four children.
They were sealed together with their children on November 6, 1976, in the Provo LDS Temple.
    Niels had many jobs, including selling newspapers for five cents and picking cotton in Chandler as a young boy, working for Standard Oil, selling insurance, and as a service writer at Ken Garff. When their family was young, Niels and Geri traveled across the United States many times for the family business, Rocky Slopes Fire Prevention, visiting every state. He worked 23 years for Utah’s Driver’s License Division, retiring as an area supervisor in 2005.  
    Niels enjoyed taking family and friends fishing, playing trumpet, gardening, playing games, helping people and spending time with family, especially with his eternal companion of 48 years, Geri.  He could talk easily with anybody he met and was liked by all. He always had an entertaining story to tell.
    Niels was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a strong faith in his religion.  He and Geri served a mission (2005-2006) at Sixth Crossing and Martin’s Cove and at the Winnecook Ranch in Harlowton, Montana. In recent years Niels and Geri spent winters in Mesa, AZ, volunteering as site stewards at Saguaro Lake, Tonto National Forest. They spent summers at their home in Montwell, where he loved to garden, growing tomatoes and peppers for Geri’s special salsas.
    Niels is survived by his wife and children: Niels Ray (Tanya), Post Falls, ID; Aleta (Paul) Billadeau, Weare, NH; Martin “Jon” (Andrea), Lemon Springs, NC; Layne (Luann), Chandler, AZ; Dustin; Troy, both of Las Vegas, NV; Damon (Erin) Orem; and Ragan (Tim) Eaton, Tomball, TX; siblings, Theo (Martha) Nielson, Mesa; Robert Nielson, Montwell; Leland (Debbie) Nielson, Independence; Julia (Jeff) Corry, Cedar City; Daniel (Jeree) Nielson, Portland, OR; and Mark (Brenda) Nielson, Portland; 28 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.  
    He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Johna Mae, Natalie, and Lorna.
    Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 11, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the Neola LDS Chapel.  A viewing will be held on Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the Hullinger Mortuary and one hour prior to the service at the church.
    Burial will be in the Cedarview Cemetery.  Condolences may be shared at www.hullingermortuary.com