Donald Lavern Nielsen, 83

The Rev. Donald Lavern Nielsen died of natural causes at Immanuel Lutheran Home on July 30, 2011, at the age of 83.

He was born in Watertown, S.D., to Matthew and Gerda Nielsen on July 21, 1928. Growing up in Brookings, S.D., Don quit school at the age of 16 to help support the family, working as a welder.

He moved to Nebraska to attend Gordon Bible College where he met and fell in love with Mae Quilling. They were married Dec. 24, 1949. In 1953 they moved to Portland for Don to attend Warner Pacific Bible College, working in a fabrication shop at night.

Don was a minister and pastored in the states of Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota and Montana. In addition to being an ordained minister, he was a “Jack-of-all-trades”... certified plumber, certified welder, certified electrician, master carpenter, finish carpenter, cabinet maker, millwright, mechanic and inventor!

Don enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking and camping. He loved being in the outdoors, marveling at the beauty God had created. Always active in sharing the love of God with everyone he met, he especially enjoyed teaching and mentoring junior age kids. For many years he taught the Junior Sunday School class and had various activities for them. Don delighted in his family ... spending time with them, helping with repairs and building projects, attending school and sports events, and camping. Don and Mae loved the Montana church and had a heart for establishing a Montana State COG Campground.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Matthew and Gerda Nielsen; his wife, Mae Janette Quilling Nielsen; and grandson, Kristopher Sperry.

He is survived by his four children, Donna and Bob Conrad of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Eldon and Ellen Nielsen of Kalispell, Marilyn and Dennis Dierman of Kalispell, and Melvin and Connie Nielsen of Whitefish; his grandchildren, Don Conrad, Joe and Heidi Conrad, David and Charity Nielsen, Carolyn Nielsen, Kayleen Sperry, Jason Sperry, Brad Nielsen, Jeremy Nielsen and Megan Nielsen; 11 great-grandchildren, Sarah, Cody and Kyle Conrad, Micah and Levi Nielsen, Kylee Nielsen, Gwen and Willow Salyer, Rileigh Sperry, Anthony and Landon Sperry; and sister, Levone Jerred.

Don ... Father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. He is already missed and leaves a hole in our lives.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, at the Tobacco Valley Cemetery in Eureka. Visitation will be Monday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Eureka. There will be a celebration of life at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, at the Cornerstone Community Church in Kalispell.