Harold Bencke Nielsen

1926 ~ 2022

Viewing:

March 4, 2022
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Hidden Valley Stake Center, 1450 E Raddon Drive, Sandy, Utah
  • Directions to Viewing
  • Service:

    March 5, 2022
    11:00 AM
    Viewing Prior to Service from 10:00-10:40 A.M. Hidden Valley Stake Center, 1450 E Raddon Drive, Sandy, Utah
  • Directions to Service
  • Harold Bencke Nielsen

    1926 ~ 2022

    Draper, UT - Harold Bencke Nielsen, our loving husband and father, peacefully passed away after a head injury due to a fall. He returned to his loving heavenly parents on Friday, February 18, 2022, at the age of 95.

    Harold was born on August 14, 1926 in North Hollywood, California, the son of Harold Holger Nielsen and Anna Hansine Bencke. His father passed away when he was seven years old. Harold was the youngest of 11 children. He is now with loved ones that he has missed for so long.

    Harold served in the U.S. Navy in WWII. When he returned from the war, he served a mission in Denmark from 1947-1950 for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    Shortly after he returned from his mission, he met Gloria Rae Stark. It didn’t take long for them to fall in love. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Saint George Temple on May 1, 1951. Harold graduated from Brigham Young University in 1954. Shortly after graduating, Harold started his own insurance agency in Southern California to support his growing family.

    Harold and Gloria moved to Draper, Utah in 1992. Harold would often say, “I love my Draper niche”. He loved opening his home to family and friends, but especially enjoyed visits with his grandchildren attending college in Utah.

    Harold was loved by his wife, his 8 children, 37 grandchildren and 57 great-grandchildren. He helped each feel important and special with his support of their activities, showing interest in their growing families and having personal chats in his den.

    Harold was a golf enthusiast. He enjoyed this time with friends and being outdoors. He played well into his later years and won the gold medal at the World Senior Olympics in St. George, Utah in 2012.

    Harold made serving a priority. He served in various ward and stake callings, including Bishop and as a Patriarch for 35 years. In addition, he and our mother served together on several Church missions at Welfare Square, the state prison and Westridge Academy. You could tell by the way he lived his life that the gospel was very important to him. He was filled with kindness, compassion and Christ-like love for others.

    Harold was preceded in death by his parents; his 10 siblings; and his daughter Paula Ann Giles. He is survived by his wife Gloria; and his children Lynette (Bob), Diana (Larry), Tom (Christine), John (Denise), Craig (Linda), Carol (Lloyd) and Sandi.

    Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 5th, 2022 at 11:00 am at the LDS Chapel located at 1450 Raddon Drive, Sandy Utah 84092. Friends may visit with the family on Friday night from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the same ward building and on Saturday morning from 10:00 - 10:30 am prior to the service. Interment will follow at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery (1950 East Dimple Dell Road, Sandy, Utah 84092.

    In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests contributions be made to the
    Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T.org).

    To view COMPLETED services, you must have a Zoom account, then click the "Watch Services" button or click on the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/8wZxG6Zikybd2tF0NA39GMQ2DRnDSGSKcR3AlF3_Pza2DLq0mVHmRBB4kigZnPyz.8LxrGP9XK4cwgy-C?startTime=1646501314000


    Guestbook/Condolences

    I am sorry for the loss of such a noble and good man. May Heavenly Father strenghten the family in this trying time.


    - Eric

    To my Great Uncle Harold.
    I miss you a lot already. Your the closest thing (Besides my Mom & her siblings) that I ever had to knowing my Grandpa Earl. I’m going to miss your stories about my Grandpa and about your Family. Rest In Peace until we meet again.

    Love, Katie Richins (Great Niece)


    - Katie Richins

    My sweet friend,
    I am so so sorry to say goodbye to Harold. He was truly a good man, great friend, honorable patriarch. I am grateful for the blessing he gave me a few weeks ago. When he asked me if he could do that, I felt honored and that he was such an angel of a man. I will cherish his letter to me also. It's hard to believe we have been friends for almost thirty years and now he is gone. You two were so beautiful together, a wonderful example, truly a team! I love you Gloria and always will. My prayers are with you for peace, and contentment.
    Love you sweet friend, Mechelle Harrington


    - Mechelle Harrington

    Your home was my second home growing up and that included your parents being a large part of my kid years. I remember your dad being quiet but most of all I remember him at our house playing chess with my dad and other ward members. Love you all, may you find peace and comfort.


    - Patti Montgomery

    Oh Harold and Gloria, how I love you so! I will always cherish the many visits we have had and will always chuckle that Gloria once said “Harold she came to visit with me” when he was just about to sit down and join in our conversation! I am so grateful my girls were able to receive their patriarchal blessings from Harold, we all love him dearly and of course I have kept every card or letter he has ever sent us including one at least 8 years ago asking me to take care of Gloria in case anything ever happened to him. It’s so hard to say goodbye but I look forward to seeing him again. Gloria we love you so much and will take care of you!
    Much love,
    April Raymond (friend)


    - April Raymond

    Thank you grandpa and grandma for all you have done. Tha k you for the relationship you have with me, my husband and my kids. My kids are so lucky to know their great grandparents. Tha k you grandpa for the inspiring words you have given to us all. I know you are proud of Gavin and his decision to serve a missiona and were looking forward to seeing that. You will always be with him and he will always look up to you. Say hi to my mom and hug her for me! Love you!


    - Jen Bulkley (granddaughter)

    I am truly grateful for my friendship with Harold and Gloria. We recently attended a blessing he gave to a friend that has had Cancer and he gave a wonderful blessing that comforted her. I am a better person from learning from his example. May God bless and welcome him home. Our sincere condolences to the family.


    - Karla Jennings

    From the bottom of our hearts, we send our condolences to the whole family. What we know is that the Gospel re-assure us that our spirit Never Die and the resurrection will again allow us to unite with our beloved one and again continue our Family.
    It is painful to be separated with our beloved Daddy, Grand Pa and Friend but we surely know that he is alive and in a good and peaceful place.
    May the Lord Peace and Love be upon the entire family.
    The Matanda's (Michael, Dave, Christopher, Offrael, Christelle, Dr Ruffine and Richard)


    - Dr RICHARD MATANDA FAMILY-NAMIBIA