Pudge Nielsen has taken his last and final trip. Harold “Pudge” Nielsen passed away on June 16, 2016, at the age of 94.
Pudge was born January 21, 1922, in Wellsville, Utah. He was the youngest of seven surviving children born to Wilford L. and Louisa (Poppleton) Nielsen. His family moved to Carbon County early in his life, where he met and married Edith Long on August 9, 1941. They shared 51 great years together, making their home in Helper, Utah, before her death October 13, 1992. Together they had three daughters, Catherine, Judith and Carol.
After finishing his schooling in Carbon County, Pudge work for D&RGW Railroad at the height of coalmining as an Engineer and Fireman for 40 years, retiring in 1986. He also worked for Helper City in many roles, including as the Helper City Cemetery Sexton, with the volunteer fire department for over 30 years, and volunteered with the Helper City Museum Board. Pudge owned a cabin in Scofield, and was a board member with the Scofield Campsite for many years. Pudge loved going to his cabin and waking up early to troll the waters fishing. He taught the joy of fishing to his daughters, and later his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, on the shores of Scofield.
As a couple, Pudge and Edith loved to travel. They were active with the Lions and Elks Clubs for 54 and 45 years respectively. Pudge traveled with the Lions Club all over the United States and abroad, including 30 foreign countries, buying and trading pins. He was an avid pin collector, amassing over 5,000 pins in his collection. When he wasn’t traveling with his clubs, he was traveling with his friends and family. He liked to take “his girls” out on special trips, including numerous Alaskan cruises.
Pudge is preceded in death by his wife, Edith, father and mother, Wilford and Louise, and all of his siblings. He turned the lights out, being the last of the Wilford L. Nielsen children to pass on. Pudge is survived by his daughters: Catherine (Sundra) Llewelyn of Helper, UT, Judith (Bevan) Goff of Renton, WA and Carol (Paul) Smedley of Centerville, UT, as well as 9 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren, and many more nieces and nephews.
The family would like to offer a special thanks to Symbii Hospice of Price for their care of Pudge during this difficult time. And a special thank you to Rick and Autumn for their love, support and patience.
Funeral service, Saturday, June 25, 2016, 11:00 a.m., Mitchell Funeral Home. Family will receive friends at Mitchell’s Saturday one hour prior to service. Interment, Mt. View Cemetery, Helper. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Pudge online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.