Alvin Anton Nielsen

Alvin Anton Nielsen, 64, passed away peacefully on the morning of Thursday, October 9, 2008, at the

Eastern

Idaho

Regional

Medical

Center

.

Alvin

was born on November 7, 1943, in

Idaho Falls

, the eldest child of Leonard and Ruby Nielsen.

He lived in

Idaho

his entire life, the last 40 years in Basalt.

Alvin

was known for his sense of humor, generosity and ability to strike up a conversation with anyone.

He enjoyed oil painting, history, bird watching, and architecture.

Most of all, he enjoyed being a father of 12 and a grandfather of nine.

Alvin

grew up in

Shelley

,

Idaho

, and graduated from

Shelley

High School

in 1962.

He graduated from

Ricks

College

in 1967 with an Associates Degree.

Alvin

married Aileen Grange on August 4, 1967, in the

Idaho Falls

Temple

.

Alvin

took enormous pride in his family and was a devoted and active parent.

As his children grew up, he spent time as both a Grid Kid football coach and a Youth Soccer coach. He also used his vacation every summer to attend all of Scout camp and Girls camp with each of his children.

Alvin

was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He served as a missionary in the East Central States Mission from 1962 to 1964, spending most of his time in

Tennessee

and

Kentucky

.

Alvin

held many positions in the Church.

During many of his later years, he and his wife were Nursery Leaders in the Basalt Ward Primary.

Alvin

was a proud member of the Boy Scouts of America, where he served in multiple positions, including Webelos Leader, Cubmaster, and Scoutmaster.

He received both the Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver.

All four of

Alvin

’s sons and his eldest grandson have earned their Eagle Scout awards.

Alvin

was employed at the Idaho National Laboratory for 38 years, where he worked as a printer.

Alvin is survived by his wife Aileen Nielsen, of Basalt; son Jeff (Sandy) Nielsen, of Baltimore, Ohio; daughter Lori (John) Jeffs, of Firth; daughter Claudette Nielsen, of Ogden, Utah; daughter Rachelle Nielsen, of Idaho Falls; son Linden (Rachel) Nielsen, of Shelley; daughter Misti Nielsen, of Pocatello; son Brad Nielsen, of Idaho Falls; son Alex Nielsen, of Rexburg; daughter Annikka Nielsen, of Ogden Utah; daughter Brina Nielsen, of Ontario, Oregon; daughter Brook Nielsen, of Ontario, Oregon; brother Mike Nielsen, of Seattle, Washington; and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Nikki Nielsen; his parents, Leonard and Ruby Nielsen; his brother, Rick Nielsen; and a grandson, Chris Jeffs.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 13, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the

Firth

Stake

Center

(823 N. 675 E.) in Basalt. The family will meet with friends on Sunday, October 12 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Nalder Funeral Home (110 W. Oak) in Shelley, and Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. at the Church. Interment will be in the

Shelley

Hillcrest

Cemetery

.