Lewis Wilford Nielsen

Lewis passed peacefully at home on April 2, 2022. He was born December 17, 1929, in Smithfield, Cache County, Utah to Wilford L. Nielsen and Harriet Gittins Nielsen. He was raised in the small mining camp of Spring Canyon, Carbon County, Utah with his 4 sisters and 1 brother.

After graduating from Carbon High School, he joined the Navy, serving 1 year of active duty and 6 years in the reserve later. He attended 1 year at BYU before leaving to serve a 2-year mission in Western Canada. He returned to BYU, graduated as an Industrial Engineer and married the love of his life, Grethe Sorensen. He later received his master’s degree in Engineering Administration from the University of Utah.

During his business career he worked as an Industrial Engineer for Consolidated Western Steel, in Orem, Utah, and then in southern California before returning to Utah to work at Thiokol Chemical Corp. near Brigham City. Lew was then asked to work at the Headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake where he was involved in the interior building and occupancy of the high-rise General Church Office Building.  He was also the Administrator of all Church Office buildings in Salt Lake City, Temple Square and the Tabernacle Choir, a job he enjoyed very much. He then made a career change and was hired as a vice-president of Eaton Kenway Corp. located in Salt Lake City. He ended his working career by working with his son Mike in their real estate investment and property management company, Barlow Nielsen Associates. Lew also served as the President of the Utah Chapter of Industrial Engineers, and President of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers in Centerville, in addition to being active in the Lions Club and BOMA.

Lew’s greatest love was his family. He had 3 sons and 3 daughters and was so proud and grateful for each of them and their wonderful mates. He had 24 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren which were the joy of his life and gave him many opportunities to brag. They loved their family cookouts, holidays together, fishing and camping and all of those BYU football games as members of the Cougar Club for many, many years.

Lew loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and served faithfully throughout his life as a counselor in 3 Bishoprics, a Bishop, a High Counselor twice and taught many adult classes. He and Grethe served a mission in Paraguay and then 3 years as the Directors of Missionaries for the Farm Management Company of the Church. They then served for 8 years as ordinance workers in the Bountiful Temple.

Lew loved traveling, especially a good road trip, and instilled this love into his children and grandchildren.  He has visited all 50 states, 48 countries and 10 Canadian provinces.

Lew is survived by his wife of almost 69 years, and his children – Mike, Sherry (Jim) Tillotson, Julie Fleury, Kris (Steve) Bloomfield, Ken (deceased) (Amanda), Kelly (Jennifer), and daughter-in-law Joan.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 8, 2022, at the Centerville South Stake Center, 270 North 300 East, Centerville, Utah.  A viewing will be held Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah and Friday morning from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment- Centerville City Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.