Nancy Bernice Conners Nielson was born on June 14, 1936 in Bucksport, Maine to Alfred Edison Conners and Shirley Alice Coombs Conners. She passed away on February 20, 2017 in Salt Lake County.
Nancy joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints when she was 16 years old and her church affiliation led her to meeting Sherman Ross Hanseen. Nancy and Sherman married August 21st, 1955 in the Salt Lake Temple and together they adopted 3 children; Andrew, Peter, and Marianne. Sherman and Nancy later divorced. Nancy met Rex Soren Nielson and years later they were married and moved to Silver Reef, Utah where they built a home and enjoyed hikes among the red rock scenery of Southern Utah. They later divorced and Nancy moved to West Jordan where she could be closer to most of her children and grandchildren.
Even as a young girl Nancy always looked forward to her time at school and later took that love of school to the classroom as a teacher at Uintah Elementary in Salt Lake City. She taught 5th grade as well as 2nd grade and was known to her students as Mrs. Hanseen during her teaching years.
Nancy was a runner before running was really ‚Äòa thing.' Nancy would run the suspended oval indoor track above the basketball courts at the old Deseret Gym‚ in her socks. This started in 1974 even before the invention of running shoes as we know them today.
Nancy was a hard worker who always made the best of every situation. She was content through making do, and rarely complained. She raised three children largely on her own. She made sure her boys knew how to work and arranged for and helped them with an early morning newspaper route for 6 very formative years.
Nancy was an example of kind-heartedness, selflessness, and without fanfare lived her testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. She served where asked and always took extra time preparing lessons to make sure they contained quality content. We have every confidence in joyous reunions occurring and in her having been blessed to have heard "Well done daughter Nancy, well done!"
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, and is survived by her sisters Elizabeth and Christine, and brother James- all living in Maine; her children Andrew of Blaine, WA; Peter (Jodi) of Kaysville, UT; Marianne Spainhower (Dominick) of Kearns, UT; 13 nieces and nephews; and 10 grandchildren, and dog Lady Bell.
The family wishes to thank the care givers at Avalon West skilled nursing facility for their excellent and kind care of our mother during her last 7 months of life.
Funeral services will be held Monday, February 27th at Larkin Mortuary, 2350 E. 1300 S., SLC UT at 11 AM. A viewing will be held Sunday evening, February 26th from 6-8 PM at the same location, and 1 hour before the services on Monday.
