Roger E. Nielsen

Salina, Utah - Roger Evans Nielsen, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away March 28, 2008 at the Gunnison Valley Hospital in Gunnison, Utah, at the age of 85, after a long fought battle with Multiple Myeloma Cancer. He was born September 29, 1922 in Salina, Utah, a son of Hans Carl (Charles) and Francis Evans Nielsen. As a small boy he refused to attend his first year of school, but went on to graduate from North Sevier High School in 1941. He attended Snow College then went on to graduate from Brigham Young University where he received his Masters Degree in Education. He then spent thirty-nine years as a Coach, Teacher, Elementary School Principal, High School Principal and Director of Sevier Valley Tech in the Sevier School District. He was always active in sports and while attending Snow College, he was awarded the Ferron C. Losee award as outstanding athlete-scholar-sportsman in the Intermountain Junior College Athletic Conference. While at BYU, he played two years of semi-pro basketball for Geneva Steel Company. He was paid $20.00 for each game. Roger was very patriotic and he spent 3 ½ years in the U.S. Army serving during World War II, first at Camp Barkley, Texas, then in the China-Burma-India Theater of War. He was first in the Medic Corp and then transferred to the Supplies Headquarters. Roger was very active in his community, serving as an LDS Church Bishopric First Counselor for 5 years, as an LDS Church High Counselor for 15 years, as a President of the Young Men’s Association, as a Ward Clerk and a Home Teacher. He was also a Salina City Councilman for 8 years. Roger married Ruth Baxter, February 12, 1944 in Abilene, Texas. They later divorced. He married Gayle Anderson July 20, 1974 in Salina, Utah. Their marriage was solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple August 10, 1985. Between them, they are the parents of four children who will always love Roger for his kind and gentle nature. They are: Stefenee and Dan Huch of Draper (his only child with Ruth and so precious to her father) and Gayle’s three children, whom he loved dearly: Jared and April Sorensen of Reno, NV; Natalie and Glen Lewis of Aurora; Eric Sorensen of Millbrae, CA. Roger is survived by his wife, children, 18 grandchildren, 21 ½ great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, along with his sister, Thelma Okerlund of Salina. He is preceded in death by his parents, a sister: Virgie Nielsen and brothers, Lynn C. Nielsen, Dean Nielsen and Richard Nielsen. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 12 Noon in the Salina LDS Stake Center, 98 West 400 North in Salina where friends may call for viewing Monday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. or Tuesday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 prior to the services. Burial with military honors accorded by the Salina American Legion Post #36 will be in the Salina Eastside Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield, Salina and Gunnison, Utah.