Helen Bonita Nielsen

Helen Bonita Nielsen, the daughter of Frank and Chella (Long) Myers, was born February 19, 1925, on her parents’ farm in rural Guthrie County, Iowa and died July 21, 2020, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 95 years, 5 months, and 2 days.

Helen was baptized at the First Christian Church in Guthrie Center, Iowa. She attended rural school in Guthrie County and was then employed at the local grocery store and the “Dime” store for several years.

On November 29, 1949, she was united in marriage to Elmer Theodore Nielsen at the Christian Church Parsonage in Perry, Iowa. They were blessed with three sons: Robert and twins Randall and Richard. Helen and Elmer operated Elmer’s family farm south of Exira for many years where they grew grain and raised livestock. Helen always had a large vegetable garden and enjoyed all the fresh produce. They retired from farming in 2004 and moved into Exira. Elmer died June 4, 2014. Helen lived at home until she moved to the Exira Care Center in October of 2019.

Helen was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church along with two neighborhood clubs. She enjoyed working with Elmer on the farm. Helen also liked fishing, gardening, cooking, and sewing. But most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and many friends.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; her daughter-in-law, Pamela Nielsen; her grandson, Christopher Nielsen; her parents; and her sister, Edith Belle Culbertson.

Survivors include her sons: Robert and wife Sylvia Nielsen, and Richard and wife Diane Nielsen, all of Exira, and Randall Nielsen of Newell, Iowa; four grandchildren: Emily and husband Chris Welder of Iowa City, Iowa; Hillary Nielsen and friend Brad Grugan, and Josh Nielsen, all of Newell, Iowa; and Jennifer and husband Kevin Howell of Bixby, Oklahoma; six great-grandchildren: Jessica, Trey, and Tyler Howell of Bixby, Oklahoma; Rowyn Nielsen, and Hanna and Rilyn Nielsen, all of Newell, Iowa; and sister-in-law, Wilma Nielsen of Des Moines, Iowa; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The family will meet with friends Saturday afternoon, July 25, 2020, from 1:00 P.M. until the time of the service at the Exira Lutheran Church. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 P.M. at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira. Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa. The casket bearers will be Brad Nielsen, Chuck Nielsen, Josh Nielsen, Rilyn Nielsen, Chris Welder, and Kevin Howell.



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