Louise passed away at age 87 on April 25, 2023 in South Jordan, Utah, after a four-month long battle with multiple myeloma cancer.
She was born on January 11, 1936 in Woods Cross, Utah, to Charles Andrew Burns and Edna Yeiter Burns. As a young girl she was raised, along with her older sister, Marilyn, with extended family in the care of their grandmother, Elisa Jane Yeiter, whom the sisters loved dearly. Although poor, Louise and Marilyn enjoyed many happy years growing up on their grandmother’s farm. In 1945, tragically, the farmhouse burned to the ground. During her junior high and high school years, she lived with her father and sister in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was a high school newspaper editor. Louise studied hard and did very well in school. She graduated from West High School in 1954 and married Halbert C. Nelson later that same year. Together they had three sons that she loved greatly; they were her pride and joy. Louise and Halbert divorced in 1979.
Louise was a loving, generous, sweet, and supportive mother. She was always encouraging and happy to be there in any capacity for her boys, helping them throughout all aspects of their lives, in any way she could. Louise and family spent many summer vacations with her sister’s family in Washington, and those were joyous times. Louise especially adored her niece, Leslie.
In addition to helping raise and care for three boys, she was employed for many years by various organizations doing data entry, administrative, and other duties. In mid-life, she took on a new career path and became a certified hypnotherapist to help people overcome problems. She was a skilled hypnotherapist and authored a publication about the subject.
Throughout her life she took great pleasure in various forms of artwork, and she had a great deal of natural talent. She enjoyed painting and, especially, sculpting. She was a collector of books, magazines, and antiques, in which many treasures were passed down to her by her father. Besides her three sons, one of her greatest joys in life was her five grandchildren. She babysat them often when they were young, and they loved spending time with Grandma. She was very proud of all of them and their accomplishments.
This kind and wonderful woman is survived by: sons, Hal Nelson (Cyndy), Curt Nelson, and Chad Nelson (Lesa); grandchildren, Kaylee Nelson, Natalie Nelson, Hal Nelson Jr (Shella), Jacob Nelson and Alana Nelson; sister Marilyn Little (Whidbey Island, Washington); two nieces, Leslie Breeden and Stacey Little, and one nephew, Eric Little; she is also survived by previous husband, Halbert Nelson; as well as other extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents.
We will forever cherish our fond memories of her.
A private graveside service and interment will be held with immediate family.
Special Thoughts about our Mother (by Curt Nelson)
Always full of great ideas, our mother had a constant energy, and a zest for life.
A great example of her generosity and who she was from about 1964: Aunt Iva and Uncle Bill were getting married and Mom offered to use our house for the wedding. She went overboard to make it great. Designing and ordering a new entry light, she decorated the house and the front and backyard for the festive celebration. Also, in four hours total, she bought canvas, stretchers, and paint supplies and painted the big dramatic rainy city scene painting (see the attached picture) to liven up the house for the wedding. It was a beautiful piece of art, and it adorned the entry way of our house for many years.
When she decorated the house, her flare for design was fantastic. We had the wildest house in the neighborhood, but it was tastefully done.
She truly made Christmas special. As youngsters, our Christmases were so happy, full, and memorable. Mom would decorate not just the living room, but the whole house. Once we had three Christmas trees in different rooms. Somehow the haul of gifts each year was amazing, even though Mom and Dad couldn’t afford it, she made sure it was great. The neighbor kids often said, “You guys got the best stuff.” She shined with Christmas treats and cooking to round out the wonderful, contented Christmases. Mom was a fantastic cook. During those times Mom would break out the Christmas records and formed our love for the classics.
In the fourth grade my Mom and Uncle Glen just showed up one day, interrupting class. I had won a national Christmas art contest sponsored by Uncle Glen’s U.S. Plywood. Mom wanted to make this award and celebration very special for me, and it really was. Boy, you don’t forget that.
Many times she would come to the rescue for Halloween costumes and ideas. Anything we needed help on, she could not only sew the costume up or create the face paint for it, and do it perfectly and fast.
Mom was always working hard to get ahead in life. Way back in the 60s and 70s, she had the idea to find suitable fixer-upper houses for us to restore and resale (before it was popular). That included long, hard work days for us boys, although all I pleaded for was the chance to get away in time for my evening baseball game. She helped teach us what hard work was, and the pride that comes with it. She jumped right in, laying concrete blocks and every other task.
Once she was showing our neighbor ladies, Thalia and Shauna, the latest new project from the backyard, when the next-door mean dog attacked them. They all dashed for the back door, reaching it at the same time, and all three ladies got stuck in the doorway. They couldn’t stop laughing about it. When you got Mom laughing, it was genuine and infectious. When you did something with Mom – work or play – it was fun.
When she was a data entry/key punch operator working for Computer Associates, they told her she was doing the work of five women. So they brought the massive machine to our house to cater to her desire to work from home, so she could be home more and take care of us boys.
Text from a Card by Curt Nelson on Mom’s 87th Birthday
Happy 87th Birthday Mom!!!
“Just wanted you to know how much we appreciate and love you!
From the instant we were born, you have created who we are and gave us everything. Without you, we would be nothing.
You made our home, our existence each day special and fulfilling, complete, nurtured, happy and contented, and secure with the ultimate foundation.
You put our lives on a course of absolute direction, with lives of substance and meaning.
With your ambitious nature and genuine zest for life, you had total conviction, desire, and passion for doing all and everything right and the best. Everyone knew we had the “best” mom and the best looking, too!
There was always somehow this magical, golden feeling of youth that we knew we really lucked into. You didn’t just make us feel special, it was special!
You are the core. The greatest part of our lives. We couldn’t pick or make a better mother. You have always been there with the warmth of your endless patience and love!
We love you, Mom!!!”
