Thad E. Nielsen

Thad Emery Nielsen of Richfield died July 20, 2024, in Salt Lake City, of causes incident to age. He was 91.

Thad was born January 23, 1933, in Monroe, the first of two sons born to Emery and Cora Parsons Nielsen. He grew up in Monroe, graduating from South Sevier High School in 1951. Thad and his high school sweetheart, Nedra Hunt, were married December 21, 1951, in the Manti LDS Temple. They celebrated 68 years together before she passed away January 13, 2020.

Following their marriage, Thad and Nedra stayed in Monroe for a time before moving to Salt Lake City for better work opportunities. Their little family of two became eight as they welcomed five sons and one daughter. During this time, he worked primarily as a machinist for a mining equipment manufacturer called EIMCO. The Nielsens lived in the Poplar Grove neighborhood of Salt Lake for more than 20 years before deciding to move back home to the clean air and open spaces of the Sevier Valley. Thad found work as a custodian at Richfield Junior High and Richfield High School, where students affectionately referred to him as “Weed” because he always seemed to be pulling weeds. He retired in 1996.

Thad and Nedra served a six-month mission in 2005 at the Martin’s Cove historical site in Wyoming. He was proud of his heritage, particularly that he was a descendant of a Martin handcart pioneer. He taught himself how to make miniature wooden replicas of handcarts and wagons, earning awards for some and gifting many more to his children and grandchildren. Thad always grew a vegetable garden, and took special care of his yard. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, and following his favorite sports teams, including the Utah Jazz and BYU Cougars. He was good with tools (including tape and glue!), and could build and fix just about anything. The grit and thrift he developed as a child of the Great Depression served him well throughout his life. He never threw anything away until he had tried everything he could think of to repair it. We all had a different name for it— Thadgineering, for example— but whatever you call it, it’s a skill that isn’t seen as much these days.

As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, church service was a priority in Thad’s life. In addition to the mission he and Nedra served in 2005, Thad had countless other callings in the church. He and Nedra especially enjoyed their service as temple workers in the Manti Temple.

Four years without Nedra was one of the hardest challenges of Thad’s life. To say that he missed her would be a huge understatement. He shared memories and photos of her with anyone who would listen. She was everything to him. So while we miss him, we rejoice in the reunion they are now having. Thad has passed his most difficult test. He taught us all his life— and especially at the end of his life— that we can do hard things, too.

The family would like to thank the caring staff at Zion’s Way Home Health & Hospice, R6 Area Agency on Aging, Summit Senior Living, and others involved in Thad’s care

Thad is survived by five of his six children: Randy (Ana) Nielsen, Salt Lake City; Brent (Jan) Nielsen, Stansbury Park; Stacy Jon (Amanda) Nielsen, West Jordan; Kirk Nielsen, Taylorsville; Natalie Nielsen, Mesquite, Nev.; and daughter-in-law Cindy Nielsen, Spartanburg, S.C.; 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nedra; parents, Emery and Cora Nielsen; brother, Gayle (Millie) Nielsen; and son, Russell Nielsen.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. in the Richfield East LDS Stake Center, 805 North 500 East in Richfield, where friends may call for viewing Saturday morning from 11:00 to 12:30 prior to the services.

Burial will be in the Elsinore Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Richfield Senior Center, where Thad volunteered for many years as a bus driver.