Nancy Ann Nielsen's Obituary
Nancy was born on March 20, 1935 in Riverside, California to Harry Earl Higdon and Lois Davenport Higdon and moved to Redlands when she was a small child.
She attended Redlands schools, graduating in 1952 from Redlands High School, where she was a straight A student, which earned her the honor of being a member of the Daisy Chain in her junior year. She went on to earn
her AA degree from San Bernardino Valley College, majoring in art.
After graduating from college, Nancy was hired at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, as a draftsman. Eventually, she gained a supervisory position editing military publications in both AVIS and DAVA. She retired in 1993 after 35 years of employment.
Nancy and Kenneth Lund Nielsen were married in July of 1968.
Ken obtained his pilot’s license and co-owned a small plane. Nancy said she was afraid at first, and got sick, but knew she needed to show Ken that she could do it. They took short trips, mostly within California, but also flew to Colorado to visit her sister and kids.
Nancy enjoyed traveling the world with her husband, family and friends on ski trips, even skiing in the Swiss Alps.
Sha and her husband Ken, in later years, bought a summer home in Denmark, his home country. While there, they traveled throughout Europe. The spent summers there enjoying their Danish relatives and friends, who also visited them in the U.S.
She and Ken also spent time at the cabin in Big Bear, their mobile home on the Colorado River and later their home in Idaho and traveling with their trailer and mobile home.
Nancy also loved spending time with family at outings and get-togethers. She remained friends and still spent time with some of her childhood and high school friends and served on many class reunion committees. Her last High School reunion she attended was in October 2024!
Other things she enjoyed during her life were sewing, playing the piano and organ, gardening, books, crossword puzzles, tennis and golfing. She and Ken also loved deep sea fishing in Baja.
Nancy is preceded in passing by her husband Kenneth Lund Nielsen, her father and mother Harry Earl Higdon and Lois Davenport Higdon, brother, Terry V Higdon, brother Don L Higdon and wife Jeanie, brother, Rex P Hollidy, sister Marcella Hollidy Hollie, stepmother Hazel Hollidy Higdon, and step-daughter, Dianna Nielsen, and nephew in law, Robert Williams.
Nancy is survived by her son, John Lund Nielsen, and his wife Michele, grandsons Alex & Jose Nielsen, step- daughter Suzzie Nielsen Gray, and her sister Jean Higdon Timmerman and husband Time. She is also survived by nephews, Rick Higdon, and his wife Blanche, Kelly Rowley, and Bryon Timmerman and nieces, Jacqueline Higdon Stewart, Barbara Higdon Lockridge and husband Larry, Kathi Higdon Seagraves and husband Grant, Rhonda Higdon and husband Clarence, Rachel Rowley Wold and husband Scott and Tracy Fox Murdock. Plus, many grand nephews and nieces and great grand nephews and nieces.
Nancy was loved by all who knew her and she will be greatly missed.
There will be no public service, but only a small family gathering to celebrate her life, a life well lived.
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