Lyle Dee Nielsen, age 92, surrounded by family, passed away quietly at his Draper, Utah home Thursday, November 7, 2019. Lyle was born March 2, 1927 in St. Anthony, Idaho, the eighth of nine children to Sidney Niels Nielsen and Mary Elizabeth Jackson. He grew up at a time when rural Idaho was still coming into the modern age of electricity and indoor plumbing. Their home was on the edge of town and fishing, hunting, trapping, and all things outdoor were his world growing up. His older brothers took him afield and taught him the how to's and values of nature. But life wasn't all fun, he learned the importance of service to his fellowman and hard work from his parents. His dad served as Bishop of their ward during the depression years, often raiding his own cupboard or wallet to provide for those with even less. Lyle wondered what happened to all the loaves of bread his mother would bake until he was old enough to understand that despite their own meager means they had the means and opportunity to lift others. He attended schools in St. Anthony and left at the end of his Junior year to join the US Army, where he served until the end of WWII. He earned his GED after returning home.
Formal jobs started even earlier as he worked for area farmers. At the ripe old age of 13 and after the sheriff stopped him driving a farm truck, he got his driver's license which led to his military assignment. He was initially assigned to the motor pool but when the officer asked who had a CDL or chauffeur's license, Lyle was the only one to raise his hand. Subsequently, he was assigned as a general's driver for the remainder of his active duty. Upon his return to St. Anthony, he joined his father and brothers in the family carpentry and construction business. There he learned the skills that would provide for him and his family for the remainder of his life. Together with his brother and later his sons, Nielsen Brothers Construction built homes, commercial properties, and high-quality mill work from Jackson, Wyoming to Sun Valley, Idaho and from Yellowstone Park to Las Vegas, Nevada. His favorite contract was to provide and install the millwork in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' Las Vegas, Nevada Temple. He treasured the opportunity to be part of the latter day gathering of Israel through and in His Temples.
A couple of years after his return to Idaho he met a little girl with twinkling eyes and saw the sparks that he would tell others to run from, but Lyle stumbled and fell for Ruby McCulloch. They married a short time later on May 28, 1948 in Rexburg, Idaho and established their home in St. Anthony. To Lyle there was nothing more beautiful or important than his Ruby. Their union was later sealed for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls, Idaho Temple. To this union, six children (three boys and three girls) were added. At the time of his passing, Lyle's progeny includes his 6 children, 19 grandchildren, and 27 great grandchildren. He was proud of all his family and enjoyed every moment spent with them. Lyle's work took the family to Las Vegas in 1989. After retirement, he and Ruby moved to Draper, Utah where they lived at the time of his passing.
Lyle is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in a number and variety of callings. He took his Explorer Scouts to Mountain Home Air Force base at the height of the Cold War viewing B-52 bombers and where the atomic bombs would hang, served as counselor to two Bishops and in High Priest Group presidencies. As a Home Teacher he cared for many widows and widowers, church members and members of other faiths who were just neighbors. The values he learned from his parents were just part of who he was as he would drop work, dig deep, and minister to those in need. He and Ruby were Ordinance Workers for many years at the Idaho Falls and Las Vegas Temples. Many young bridegrooms were offered one last chance (light heartedly) to escape as Lyle served as their escort.
Lyle was preceded in death by his parents and seven of his siblings, a son-in-law (Grant Rasmussen) and one grandson (Jacob Nielsen). He is survived by his wife Ruby of 71+ years, his children L. James (Jim) Nielsen (Carol), Nina Kaye Farnsworth (David), Cathy Rasmussen, Cliff Nielsen (Lisa Crockatt), Trent J Nielsen (Katrina), and Tiffani Allan, 18 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren and his sister Geraldine Mortensen.
Services will be held at 10:00 am on November 16, 2019 at the South Mountain 4th
Ward, 1911 East Gray Fox Drive, Draper, Utah. A short visitation will be held starting at
9:00 am at the ward house prior to the services. Grave side services with military
honors will be held at 4:00 pm at the Parker, Idaho Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation of service or other to the Light the World program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (see https://www.comeuntochrist.org) this Christmas season. The family would also like to thank Taylor, the staff of Heartwood Home, Health & Hospice, and the South Mountain 4th Ward Young Men, Young Women and Relief Society for their love and service given Lyle and our family.
