Merrill Edward Nielsen

Merrill Edward Nielsen, 79, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend passed away February 18, 2012 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born on January 13, 1933 in Richfield, Utah to Mary Fontella Erickson and Rulon Harvey Nielsen. He was the middle child of three sons.

Merrill’s early childhood was filled with fun, games and hard work. The lessons learned left a precious work ethic and humanitarian values that followed him throughout his life.

In his middle years, he enjoyed many and varied sports including hunting, fishing, and horseback riding as well as attending the horse races whenever and wherever he could. He rode the mountains throughout Utah on horseback and motorized vehicles and left his initials in the aspen trees which bring back memories to all who travel those hills and remember him.

Merrill graduated from Richfield High School in 1951 and attended Branch Agricultural College (BAC) in Cedar City, (now Southern Utah University—SUU). He delivered supplies throughout southern Utah for the Salt Lake-Kanab Trucking Company which included deliveries for the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell.

Merrill dated Sally Dee Winget while in high school and they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on October 8, 1953. They had one son, Jeffery Merrill, and were later divorced.

In 1958, Merrill moved to Las Vegas and began working in a service station which later led to the ownership of his own business, a Conoco Station and a Richfield Station which later became an AM-PM Mini Market. He owned this business for the next 25 years.

In 1962, Merrill met school teacher Karen Layn Alvord and they were married June 13, 1964 in Las Vegas. They had two children, a daughter, Sheri Lyn and a son, Mark Edward. They were later sealed in the Las Vegas Temple. His beloved wife, Karen, stood by him in his hours of need as his health deteriorated. She was a devoted and faithful companion throughout their 47 years of marriage.

He is survived by his wife Karen; daughter, Sheri Lyn (Lonny) Snowden; and son, Mark Edward (Holly); four grandchildren and one great-grandchild; two brothers, Mayo and Rex. He was preceded in death by his parents.

We will greatly miss Merrill’s outgoing personality. He had an outgoing personality that touched any one that met him. He was always up-front making conversation with strangers and it could honestly be said he was a stranger to no one. We want to express our sincere gratitude to all who served and comforted him in his hour of need and especially to Nathan Adelson Hospice and their dedicated staff who treated him with respect and compassion.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. in the Green Valley LDS Stake Center, 410 North Valle Verde, Henderson, NV. Friends may call at the stake center on Thursday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Graveside services and interment will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012, at 11:00 a.m .in the Richfield City Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.