Scott Nielson

Scott K Nielson

1922 ~ 2016

Our kind and dearly-loved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away on August 17, 2016.  He was born to Ione and Gerald William (Bud) Nielson on April 3, 1922, in Huntington, Utah.  He had an older sister, Jean, who died when she was 50.  He was the oldest brother to Dick, Kirk, and Tom, all who preceded him in death. He also lost granddaughter, Emily, grandson, Kyle, and great grandson, Mathew before his death.

Growing up in Huntington included his early years farming with his father in the Buckhorn Flats. He attended school in Huntington, where he was very shy, but loved to sing with his father, his brothers, his uncles and friends.  He participated in many quartets and choruses throughout his life.  We loved his deep bass voice.

He and his high school sweetheart, Lila Hilda Wilson, eloped on April 10, 1943, to Malad, Idaho just before departing for the war in the Pacific in World War II.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple on December 11, 1963. Together they raised their 3 sons and 1 daughter.  Family means everything to Scott.  He has 12 grandchildren and their spouses, and 24 great-grandchildren.  He has been to many baseball games, dance recitals, piano recitals, and roller derby matches in addition to helping with remodels and fixes in each of our homes.  He has been a loving patriarch to all his family.  He will be greatly missed.

Dad served in the Army at the end of World War II in the Pacific Islands and the Philippines.  Mom and dad moved to Salt Lake City in June 1961 when he and his brother, Kirk, decided to go into business in a Texaco service station, later two others.  He had a successful business that demanded all his attention.   Scott worked in dozens of jobs and, along with his father, was an entrepreneur.  He was also a construction worker, a miner, a mechanic, a carpenter.  He considered himself a Jack of all trades and a Master of none.  We considered him a Master of all!  He could fix anything.

He was an avid reader.  We cannot count the thousands of books he has read, and listened to after he became legally blind.  Scott loved fishing with family. He loved the mountains.  He and Lila have had the chance to travel across the country as well as vacations to Europe, Alaska, Mexico and the Caribbean.  His greatest dream was fulfilled when he went through the Panama Canal.

He was also a huge fan of the University of Utah Gymnastics Team and of the Utah Jazz.

Dad was a member of the LDS Church, and when he had a calling, no one was more dedicated.  He served with some wonderful younger men in an Elder’s Quorum Presidency.  They looked up to him and his example.  He served in a High Priest Group Leadership and was a home teacher to some families for over 20 years.  He and mom served a Member-Locater Service Mission for 6 months—24 times—lasting for 12 years.  He loved singing in the ward choir.   Dad didn’t preach his Gospel, he lived by example.

One of our favorite things is that he never stopped learning. He was open to new ideas and loved science, history, and nature programs.  His greatest message this last week to his family:” Be nice and get your education.”