Linda "Lyndi" Gail Rasmusson Nielson

Linda “Lyndi” Gail Rasmusson Nielson was born on January 19, 1951 in Langdon, North Dakota. She was the third of four daughters born to Howard and Pearl (Storebo) Rasmusson. She grew up on a grain farm where she learned to work hard and have fun. She and her sisters had many adventures. 

In high school, Lyndi participated in many activities: yearbook and newspaper staff, band (trombone), cheerleading, homecoming attendant, 4-H, Rainbow Girls, and Lutheran church activities. 

After high school, Lyndi attended Concordia College and North Dakota State University. Lyndi planned to go to Europe with a friend but when that didn’t work out, her cousin invited her to Utah. She moved there and attended Brigham Young University and later joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was set up on a blind date with her now husband, William Michael “Mike” Nielson. They married on October 20, 1973 at the Manti Temple in Utah. They were blessed with seven children: three sons and four daughters. Their second daughter, Sigri, was sadly stillborn. 

Mike and Lyndi moved into their house on Grandview Hill, thinking it was a good starter home and ended up living there the rest of their lives, for more than 45 years. She was a splendid homemaker. She canned fruit, made bread, and had a talent for making something beautiful from nothing. She had the greenest thumb and could resurrect a plant from the dead. Her porch is still filled with geraniums (some decades old) she was gifted on Mother’s Days throughout the years. Her backyard is an oasis and the rose arbor built by her father and father-in-law brings fragrant blossoms and joy every summer.

She made many lifelong friends in the neighborhood and, being far from family, they raised their children together. They would walk together in the mornings and could solve many of the world’s problems on the way. 

Lyndi was a finder. She had an amazing gift for finding long-lost relatives or other crucial information in family history. She was drawn to family history early on and communicated with relatives in Norway and was later able, with her sisters, to visit their grandfather’s and other relatives homes and farms in Norway. She also helped several others with their family history, including writing their life stories. 

She was so proud of her Norwegian heritage. Uff da was a word common in her vocabulary and Christmas always featured Norwegian desserts like lefse. She was a writer and an historian. She wrote more than 40 family history books, screenplays, and children’s stories. She loved singing and music. Growing up, she and her sisters sang at many events. She was a solid alto and sang in the ward choir for many years. She taught piano to neighborhood children, her own children, and her grandchildren.

Lyndi worked several jobs through her adult life. She assisted Mike in his photo business and took care of many of the business aspects, allowing him to focus on the actual photography. She never shied away from hard work, taking on several work-from-home jobs while her children were young. Later, she was a substitute teacher and then a para-educator for more than a decade at Spring Creek Elementary. She loved working with children and felt such joy watching her students learn and succeed. 

In the Church, she served in many callings in the Relief Society, Young Women’s, Primary, Scouting, and Activities committees. She was always prepared and gave it her all. She had a strong testimony and felt loved by and love for her Savior and Heavenly Father. 

Family was everything to her! Every year, she and her sisters would take a few days to get together and go somewhere fun. She organized larger family reunions and frequent get-togethers with her cousins as well. She was the best mom and grandmother. She supported her children on their life journeys, cheering them on at their peaks and encouraging and picking them up in their valleys. This love later extended to her grandchildren who were able to enjoy tea parties, card games, Joy School, and many hours of babysitting with her. 

Lyndi had an enthusiasm for life. She could be found sliding down the stairs in sleeping bags with her children, besting them in push-up contests in her last year, doing handstands against the wall, dragging everyone out to see a beautiful sunset, eagerly anticipating snowstorms, laying on the picnic table to watch meteor showers, being the best at cards even when her speech wasn’t the best, and laughing. Everyone loved sharing their accomplishments and interests with Lyndi as she would match their excitement.

She was diagnosed with a stage-four brain tumor in May of 2023. She underwent brain surgery and lost much of her speaking ability. Undaunted, she optimistically participated in several therapies and treatments. She peacefully left this earth life on November 17, 2023. 

Lyndi is survived by her husband, William Michael “Mike” Nielson, and her six children: Andrew, Malina, Sarah, Jacob, and Isaac. She was the grandmother of 19 adored and adoring grandchildren: Cole, Elise (Andrew and Kaori); Calvin, Theo, Addy (Malina and Jarom); Kenneth, Elizabeth, Owen (Sarah and Darin); Maeli, Emelia, Lydia, Anders, Greta (Jacob and Lacey); Guy, Declan, Faye (Isaac and BreeAnn). She is also survived by her sweet sisters who lovingly cared for her in her last month: Camille, Debbie, and Sandy. 

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Grandview Ward, 1555 N. 1350 W. Provo, Utah,  Friends may visit with family Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Interment, Provo City Cemetery.