Obituary: NIELSON, VELDA

Velda Johnson Nielson1923 ~ 2013Velda Johnson Nielson, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away Friday, August 2, 2013, in Chandler, Arizona.Velda was born November 30, 1923 to Roy Washington (Northern) Johnson and Elnora Wright Johnson in Sunnyside, Carbon County, Utah, but moved to Blanding at the age of 10, Velda married Francis David (Bud) Nielson on November 12, 1942, in the Manti LDS Temple.Velda was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served diligently in many organizations, but her favorite callings were as a cub scout den mother and over 25 years in the Young Women's organization including beekeeper, speech & drama director, and president. For several years, she and Bud were lovingly known as "Bishop Bud and Velda Baby."She attended LDS Business College in Salt Lake City and then worked as a secretary for the Farm Security Administration in Monticello, where she had to hike to the highway and hitch a ride every morning to Monticello. While Bud was in the military, she worked for OPA, handing out ration books and stamps for gas, tires, shoes, food and other items. She taught shorthand, typing and P.E. at San Juan High School. She worked over 20 years as secretary/bookkeeper for the City of Blanding until she retired.Velda shared her many creative talents with family and community through uniquely decorated wedding and birthday cakes, beautifully embroidered dishtowels, table cloths and cutwork pillowcases, special Halloween treats, and children's games and activities she made for Christmas gifts. She also wrote and directed many programs, plays, and road shows for school, community and ward activities. Family was always her first priority. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. Velda was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Francis Lyle Nielson; son-in-law, Evan R Lusty; brothers, Lyle N Johnson and Roy C (Klea) Johnson; sister, Flora (William) Graham; sister-in-law, Merlian (Keith) Jones, and brothers-in-law, H Joseph Nielson and Shirley P Nielson. She is survived by her brother, Don (Claire) Northern, St. George, UT; sisters-in-law, Clea S Johnson and Belva W Nielson, Blanding, UT, and Sandra E Nielson, Holbrook, AZ; children, Sylvia Lusty, Erda, UT; Suzanne (Steve) Anderberg, Tempe, AZ; David Boyd (Vicky) Nielson, Spring Creek, NV; and Michelle (Mario) Cintron, South Jordan, UT; 24 grandchildren, 38 1/2 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.A viewing will be held at the San Juan Mortuary in Blanding, Utah, on Saturday, August 10, 2013, from 9:00 to 9:45. Funeral services will be held at the South Chapel at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Blanding City cemetery.