Ida Nielsen
Ida Nielsen passed away peacefully in her sleep early Saturday morning, February 23, 2008, at Sheridan County
Nursing Home in Plentywood, Montana.
Ida Alice Thorstenson was born August 13, 1918 in rural Dagmar, Montana to Oscar and Frances Thorstenson.
She was the oldest of ten children. She attended the Hiawatha School just across the road from their farm on
the west side of Dagmar. She completed her first two years of high school in Kalispell and graduated from
Antelope High School. Ida moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, returning to Dagmar to teach at Roosevelt and
Coalridge schools before opening a café in Reserve.
She married Lester Nielsen of Reserve on February 15, 1951 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They made their home in
Reserve where they farmed and raised their children.Ida was renowned for her wholesome home cooked
meals and hosting family gatherings throughout the years. She was very active in the Reserve Lutheran Church
and in other community organizations. She belonged to Wakea Club, ALCW, served as Clerk of the Reserve
School Board, as well as staying busy with bowling and bridge clubs. She also made numerous trips to
Plentywood taking her children to music lessons and other activities. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, Band
Mother for twenty years, and a Sunday School teacher.
Ida Nielsen passed away peacefully in her sleep early Saturday morning, February 23, 2008, at Sheridan County
Nursing Home in Plentywood, Montana.
Ida Alice Thorstenson was born August 13, 1918 in rural Dagmar, Montana to Oscar and Frances Thorstenson.
She was the oldest of ten children. She attended the Hiawatha School just across the road from their farm on
the west side of Dagmar. She completed her first two years of high school in Kalispell and graduated from
Antelope High School. Ida moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, returning to Dagmar to teach at Roosevelt and
Coalridge schools before opening a café in Reserve.
She married Lester Nielsen of Reserve on February 15, 1951 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They made their home in
Reserve where they farmed and raised their children.Ida was renowned for her wholesome home cooked
meals and hosting family gatherings throughout the years. She was very active in the Reserve Lutheran Church
and in other community organizations. She belonged to Wakea Club, ALCW, served as Clerk of the Reserve
School Board, as well as staying busy with bowling and bridge clubs. She also made numerous trips to
Plentywood taking her children to music lessons and other activities. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, Band
Mother for twenty years, and a Sunday School teacher.
Ida was an independent woman who had many talents including reupholstering furniture, gardening,making preserves from yearly garden produce,
refurbishing and restoring furniture, sewing clothes for her family, quilting,singing and teaching a love for music to her children and grandchildren.
Ida's warm personality made her popular with young and old alike. Ida was full of spunk and prone to positive mischief at times when it was
needed. She had a glowing sparkle in her eyes and had a true zest for living which will be missed by those who knew her.
Ida enjoyed her home in Reserve and, in later years, her winter home in Mesa, Arizona, at Venture Out where she and Lester hosted family and
friends during the winter months. When Lester and Ida stopped going south for the winter, they took up residence in the Pioneer Manor.
Ida is survived by her devoted husband of 57 years, Lester; sister Bernice Sorenson, and brother Oscar "Pepper" (Anne)Thorstenson; sisters-in-law,
Pearl Thorstenson, June (Reed) Nelson and Irene Thorstenson; brother-in-law Duane Nielsen; her six children, Patty Tangedal, Dick (Jane) Dodge,
Cindy (Mike) O'Toole, Mitch Nielsen, Debbie (Tom) Gaffney, and Scott (Teresa) Nielsen; her fourteen grandchildren, Michael Tangedal, Christie
Hickman, Beckyand Elizabeth Dodge, Kerri and Kati O'Toole, Jamie, Afton, Kalli, and Jordyn Nielsen, Trevor and Kale Bertelsen, and Tia and Holly
Nielsen. Ida has six great grandchildren and numerous lifelong friends and relatives.
Funeral services for Ida Nielsenwere will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 28, 2008, at the Reserve Lutheran Church. Johnette Grefe will
officiate, with Elaine Brekke, pianist and Gayla French, vocalist. "Sunshine," a song written and recorded by Ida's granddaughter Kati O'Toole will be
used during the service. Norma Paulson and Tammy Anderson will be ushers and pallbearers are: Kevin Larsen, Jens Nielsen, Brian Jacobsen,
Brad Holm, David Engstrom and Steve Brekke. She will be laid to rest at Nathanael Lutheran Cemetery following the service followed by a luncheon
at the Reserve Fire Hall to say one last farewell to Ida.
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood is in charge of arrangements.
refurbishing and restoring furniture, sewing clothes for her family, quilting,singing and teaching a love for music to her children and grandchildren.
Ida's warm personality made her popular with young and old alike. Ida was full of spunk and prone to positive mischief at times when it was
needed. She had a glowing sparkle in her eyes and had a true zest for living which will be missed by those who knew her.
Ida enjoyed her home in Reserve and, in later years, her winter home in Mesa, Arizona, at Venture Out where she and Lester hosted family and
friends during the winter months. When Lester and Ida stopped going south for the winter, they took up residence in the Pioneer Manor.
Ida is survived by her devoted husband of 57 years, Lester; sister Bernice Sorenson, and brother Oscar "Pepper" (Anne)Thorstenson; sisters-in-law,
Pearl Thorstenson, June (Reed) Nelson and Irene Thorstenson; brother-in-law Duane Nielsen; her six children, Patty Tangedal, Dick (Jane) Dodge,
Cindy (Mike) O'Toole, Mitch Nielsen, Debbie (Tom) Gaffney, and Scott (Teresa) Nielsen; her fourteen grandchildren, Michael Tangedal, Christie
Hickman, Beckyand Elizabeth Dodge, Kerri and Kati O'Toole, Jamie, Afton, Kalli, and Jordyn Nielsen, Trevor and Kale Bertelsen, and Tia and Holly
Nielsen. Ida has six great grandchildren and numerous lifelong friends and relatives.
Funeral services for Ida Nielsenwere will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 28, 2008, at the Reserve Lutheran Church. Johnette Grefe will
officiate, with Elaine Brekke, pianist and Gayla French, vocalist. "Sunshine," a song written and recorded by Ida's granddaughter Kati O'Toole will be
used during the service. Norma Paulson and Tammy Anderson will be ushers and pallbearers are: Kevin Larsen, Jens Nielsen, Brian Jacobsen,
Brad Holm, David Engstrom and Steve Brekke. She will be laid to rest at Nathanael Lutheran Cemetery following the service followed by a luncheon
at the Reserve Fire Hall to say one last farewell to Ida.
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood is in charge of arrangements.
| 1918 - 2008 |
Remembering Ida
| . . . . in Memory of . . . . |
