| Notes |
- Don Nielson, 84 a Stayton, Ore., farmer, died Oct. 3.
Nielson was born in Forest Grove and moved to Stayton with his family in 1943.
After serving in the U.S. Army in World War II, Nielson met and married his wife, Luella Mary, in 1948 and started farming. The two had nine children.
The Nielsons raised strawberries, corn, green beans, zucchini and grass seed from their farm on Fern Ridge.
Nielson served on the board of directors for the farmer cooperatives Wilco and NORPAC, where he served as board chairman for eight years.
Don was preceded in death by his parents James "Bill" and Agnes (Herb) Nielson, his wife Luella, his son Jim, his sister Mary Lou Geil, and his beloved canine companion Bud.
He is survived by wife Henrietta Nielson, Stayton; sons Mike (Lisa) Nielson and Dave (Maryann) Nielson of Stayton; daughters Sharon (Denny) Barnes, Connie Nielson, Kathy (John) Kaczynski and Janis (Paul) Anderson of Stayton, Judy (Glen) Hayden of Salem, and Chris (Mike) Christensen of Albany; brothers Tom (Rosie), Ed (Aletha) and Roger Nielson; sister Nancy (Richard) Hartmann; his aunt Dorothy Nielson; and 16 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
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Stayton - Donald C. "Don" Nielson died October 3, 2012 at the home of his
daughter Connie Nielson, from metastatic prostate cancer. He was 84.
Don was born in Forest Grove on November 11, 1927 and grew up in Forest Grove
and Detroit, Oregon, until his family moved to Stayton in 1943. After
graduation from Stayton High School, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and served in
the Philippines during the post-war reorganization. After his discharge in
1947, he met Luella Mary Basl on a blind date. They married in 1948 and began
farming on Fern Ridge, where they raised strawberries, corn, green beans,
zucchini, grass seed and their family of nine children.
Don served on the boards of Wilco and NORPAC, where he was board chairman for
eight years, and he was a past recipient of the Stayton Chamber of Commerce Ag
Star of the Year award. Don was a proud father, grandfather and
great-grandfather, a part-time logger, an avid elk hunter, a lifelong
parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church, and a member of the Knights of
Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters.
Don was preceded in death by his parents James "Bill" and Agnes (Herb) Nielson,
his wife of 45 years Luella, his son Jim, his sister Mary Lou Geil, and his
beloved canine companion Bud. He is survived by wife Henrietta Nielson,
Stayton; sons Mike (Lisa) Nielson and Dave (Maryann) Nielson of Stayton;
daughters Sharon (Denny) Barnes, Connie Nielson, Kathy (John) Kaczynski and
Janis (Paul) Anderson of Stayton , Judy (Glen) Hayden of Salem, and Chris (Mike)
Christensen of Albany; brothers Tom (Rosie), Ed (Aletha) and Roger Nielson;
sister Nancy (Richard) Hartmann; his aunt Dorothy Nielson; and 16 grandchildren,
4 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks for the spiritual and
physical care provided Don by Father Ed of Immaculate Conception Church, Drs.
John Strother, David Foster and David Elmgren, physician's assistant Trina, Dr.
John Gurnee and the many kind nurses at First Call Home Health, and nurse John
Conner of Willamette Valley Hospice.
A vigil will be held Monday, October 8 at 5:30 p.m., and Mass of Christian
Burial will be Tuesday, October 9 at 11:00 a.m., both at Immaculate Conception
Church in Stayton. Interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery, followed by a
luncheon reception at Anthony Hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be
made to the Regis Green and Gold Auction and the tuition assistance programs at
Regis High School and St. Mary Catholic School, Stayton. Serving the family,
North Santiam Funeral Service, Stayton.
Published in the Salem, Oregon Statesman Journal on October 6, 2012.
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1927 - 2012 (84 years)
