Thelma Neilson

It’s been 92 3/4 years since the beautiful Camas Meadows of Kilgore welcomed the fourth child of Olaf and Mary Leown Harris Frederiksen on August 23, 1930. Thelma Leown Frederiksen was delivered by her grandma Harris and joined her siblings Emma, Clarence, and Glen. Her childhood was idyllic: spending time in creeks and meadows with her friends and family, fishing, skiing, sledding, dressing up, playing house, working in her dad’s general store, teasing and sassing the customers.

Thelma graced the halls of Kilgore, Lewisville, and St. Anthony schools. She graduated high school in 1948. She made lots of friends with her cheerfulness, keen sense of humor and wit.

In the summer of ‘49 handsome, blue eyed, returned missionary, Robert Neilson, knocked on the front door of the house (which was nest door to the store) after hours looking for a block of salt for livestock. Thelma’s dad accommodated him. On another occasion she saw him standing up in his buggy racing his horses and cutting circles in the meadow behind the house, and though to herself, “Hm, I think I’ll make eyes at him.” The eyes got it, the rest is history. Robert and Thelma were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on September 6, 1950.

The newlyweds began their adventure on a ranch in Kilgore. Shortly after, Robert got a wild hair to try cattle ranching in Chilco, Idaho. It was a short-lived experiment. They returned to Fremont County and farmed, raised beef cattle, dairy cows, and kids for the next 35 years.

Thelma’s life spanned the Great Depression, WW2, the landing on the moon, and many technological advances.

She gained an unfailing testimony of the Savior and His gospel in seminary. She served willingly and faithfully in all church auxiliaries. Her and Robert served a mission in 1996 to Baltimore, Maryland for 18 months. She also loved indexing. She was an extremely talented homemaker. She loved to crochet and oil paint and gave away much of her handiwork to friends and family. She loved to grow a big garden, including raspberries and strawberries, and them preserved it all. She loved flowers and kept a beautiful yard. She was always reading out of the best books and learning new skills. Thelma taught her children the value of hard work and passed on her homemaking skills to them. She was meticulous in her appearance and dress and is remembered for her bright red lipstick.

Mom and Dad left a supreme example of goodness and righteousness and a legacy of faith, honesty, humility and hard work. Thelma passed away quietly Sunday morning May 7, 2023, at her home in Heman. She is survived by her children; Dan Neilson (Angie), Karen Beard (Nolon), Donnetta Rhead, Trudy Neilson, Kesi Neilson (Maria), Ellen Remington (Shayne), and Kyle Neilson (Renee). She leaves a posterity of 33 grandchildren and 72 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, her siblings, a son-in-law Randy Rhead, and a great-granddaughter Cheyenne Wight.

We will miss you Mom but are so happy that you are with Dad at last!