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.
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.
| 1918 - 2008 |
Remembering Ida
| . . . . in Memory of . . . . |