Russell Fred Nielsen

Russell Fred Nielsen, age 96, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2024, at his home in Clearfield. He was born in Westwood, California on March 26, 1928, to Alvin Clifton Nielsen and Flora May Perry Nielsen. He had one sister, Glenda Fay. He grew up in Ogden, Utah and graduated from Ogden High School.

Russell joined the Navy during his senior year of high school in 1946, having enough credits to graduate mid-year. He attended boot camp in San Diego where he was made a squad leader. He was chosen to go to fireman’s school and came out of boot camp as a Fireman 2nd class.

He was stationed on Guam for a short time and then assigned to a boat repair facility on Saipan working on engines. While there he was promoted to Fireman 1st class and eventually Motor Machinist Mate. He was honorably discharged on January 14, 1948.

Upon his return he began working at Hill Air Force Base. He worked there in many capacities including logistics, data engineering, and quality assurance. He retired from Hill in 1976 after 30 years of civil service. Following his retirement, he worked in the vending division of the Base Restaurant until 1987. 

He married Larene McEntire in 1953 in Ogden, Utah. They are the parents of three children: Kathryn, Shauna, and Jay Russell. They lived in Roy, Utah for 12 years and then in Clearfield, Utah for over 50 years. 

Larene passed away in 2003. Russell married Margie Palmer in 2005 in Clearfield, Utah.

He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served for many years as the ward financial clerk and also served in a bishopric.

Over the years he enjoyed boating, waterskiing, fishing, camping, snowmobiling, ATVs, wood working, card games, and traveling. He loved golfing and spending time with family and friends. 

Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Cliff and Flora Nielsen; sister, Glenda Hancock Hadley; first wife, Larene Nielsen; step-sons, Steve Anderson, Bart “Will” Anderson, and Jerred Robertson; and great-grandson, Knight John Gibby. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Margie, and his children and their spouses: Kathryn and Dennis Gerber, Shauna and John Gibby, and Jay and Joy Nielsen.

Together with Margie, they have a posterity of 6 children, 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Russell was a loving husband, a wonderful father, and a kind and caring “Grandpa Great.” He showed us by example how to live a good and honorable life, how to be true to God, family, and country, and how to have fun in so many ways. We are very grateful for his legacy of love. He will be greatly missed.

The family deeply appreciates the tender loving care provided by his devoted wife Margie, loving granddaughter and nurse Chantae, and hospice nurse Meline Cropper  from PrimRose Home Care.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, June 15th at 11:00 a.m. at the Clearfield City Cemetery, 1050 S. State Street, Clearfield. Friends may visit with family Friday, June 14, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road Layton, Utah. 

Services will be live-streamed by going to www.lindquistmortuary.com and scrolling to the bottom of Russell’s obituary page.

THE GRAVESIDE LIVESTREAM IS DEPENDENT ON CELLULAR INTERNET WHICH CAN BE INCONSISTENT. SHOULD THE LIVESTREAM CUT OUT, A RECORDING IS BEING MADE AND WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE LATER IN THE AFTERNOON.