Jul. 19, 1935 - Feb. 27, 2017
Date of Service: Mar. 3, 2017
Alvin J. Nelson Jr.
AMERICAN FALLS / BURLEY – Alvin John “Guy” Nelson, Jr., 81, of American Falls, passed away peacefully Feb. 27, 2017, at Cassia Regional Hospital, from Alzheimer’s disease.
He was born July 19, 1935, in Lake County, Montana, at his grandparents’ farmhouse. He attended schools in Anaconda and Kalispell, Mont.; Kellogg and Wallace, Idaho; and Ritzville, Wash. There was always a little bit of Montana farm boy in his heart. He wore a cowboy hat and cowboy boots for most of his adult life. His best stories were from the time spent with his grandparents, aunts and uncles in the Mission Valley of Montana.
On Nov. 2, 1955, he married his sweetheart, GaNene Rowbury in the Cardston, Alberta, Canada LDS temple. He went to school, worked and lived from coast-to-coast and many points in between.
Al attended college at Brigham Young University, earning his Bachelor’s of Science in mathematics and physics. He earned his Master’s degree in statistics at Stanford University. While teaching mathematics at Montana State University, he completed all but his dissertation for a PhD in statistics. Later on, he earned a second Master’s in Environmental Science at the University of Idaho, where he also attained professor emeritus status. During his lifetime, Al worked for Boeing, Lockheed, General Electric, Stanford Research Institute, Montana Tech, Montana State University, Aetna, Mitre Corporation, and INL.
Al had a beautiful operatic tenor voice. He sang in musicals and operas too numerous to count. He had a lifelong love of music and theater. He was one of the founding members of the Idaho Falls Opera Theater and performed with them for many years. He also served on their board of directors and as their president.
Al was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting and fishing, camping and backpacking, reloading, tying flies, and gardening. Some of the best family memories are of backpacking trips all over the country, from the White Mountains to the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
Al was a member of the LDS Church all of his life, serving as elders quorum president, Young Mens president, ordinance worker in the Boise, Idaho LDS Temple, and a home teacher. His favorite church calling was in the nursery, teaching the two and three-year-olds. Before his health failed, he was a generous and faithful servant, always willing to pick up a hitchhiker, help change a flat tire, pull somebody out of the ditch, or help people move.
He is survived by his wife, GaNene, of American Falls/Burley, Idaho; daughter, Beryl Nelson of Meridian, Idaho; son, Alan (Lari) Nelson of Burley, Idaho; daughter, Carla (Todd) Campbell of Idaho Falls, Idaho; son, Evan (Marci) Nelson of Walnut Creek, Calif.; sisters, Kay Hinckley of Fruit Heights, Utah, and Anise Whiteman of Minnesota; and a brother, Byron (Danae) Nelson of Roy, Utah. Also surviving him are 21 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren with two more on the way; one great-great-grandchild; his nieces and nephews; and “ his sisters and his cousins whom he reckons up by dozens; and his aunts.”
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Natalie Mitton; his son, Eric Nelson; and great-grandchild, Barbara Jean Alexander.
His family would like to thank Rosetta Assisted Living in Burley for the loving care they provided him when they were no longer able.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 3, at the Burley LDS Stake Center, 2050 Normal Ave., where friends and family may call from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m., preceding the service. Officiating will be Bishop Luke Trevino.
Burial will take place that afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the Fielding Memorial Cemetery in Idaho Falls, 4900 S. Yellowstone Highway.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Rasmussen Funeral Home of Burley.
