Corlene E. Nielsen

CORLENE ELEANOR NIELSEN was born on July 6, 1928, to Edgar and Clara (Singsaas) Johnson on their farm in Duel County, South Dakota. She was baptized and later confirmed on June 27, 1943, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Hendricks, Minnesota. Corlene attended country school until moving into town with her family and enrolling at the Hendricks Public School. She was active in the band, playing French horn, and was also a member of the church and school choirs. In her spare-time she loved attending local dances. Corlene entered the work force with positions at Hillyres and Irene’s Café. She commonly reminisced about her love of waiting on customers and visiting with them as a waitress, a job she was very good at. On September 30, 1951, Corlene was united in marriage to Niels Kiar Nielsen at Calvary Lutheran Church and their union was blessed with three children. She served her family as a farm wife and homemaker until entering the Hendricks Nursing Home in 2020. There, she passed away on Sunday, December 5, 2021, at the age of 93 years, four months, and 29 days.

In recent years, Corlene was a member of Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler, Minnesota. She was active in the congregation by teaching Sunday School, serving in the choir, assisting with the WELCA group, and participating in the quilters’ group. Corlene enjoyed crafts beyond quilting as well such as Danish cross stitching and embroidery. She created many lovely hardanger and embroidery pieces and straw decorations. Corlene was a member of the Marshfield Club for many years. Over the years she did a lot of canning from her vegetable garden and she was a gifted baker, being known for her Rice Krispy bars and chocolate chip cookies. “MOWING LAWN” was favorite chore of Corlene’s, but keeping a clean house was also very important to her. She had an appreciation for the daily tasks of keeping her home and just being there. Many memories were made at home with friends and family while sharing a cup of coffee or playing games including her favorite, Yahtzee, though she was always busy and rarely sat still for long being a believer of the phrase, “If you sit around you’re going to die!” Corlene truly enjoyed her family and did her best to attend the activities of grandchildren and great-grandchildren as long as she was able.

Corlene will be remembered by her children, Gary, Randy (Diana), and Rick all of Tyler; three grandchildren, Kristy (Brandon) Gifford, Tammi (Neil) Hennen, and Leanna (Bo Acheson) Eastman; eight great-grandchildren, Kira (Gared Moorse), Cody, and Brady Gifford, Drew, Ryan, and Isaiah Hennen, and Violet and Isaac Eastman sister, Marlene Pedersen of Farmington, Minnesota; sister-in-law, Barb Johnson; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; sisters, Gladys Johnson and Deloris Marten; brothers, Louvaine “Sonny” Johnson and Richard Johnson; and brothers-in-law, Arnie Johnson, Duane Marten, and Blaine Pederson.

Memorials in honor of Corlene may be directed to the Danebod Music Fund, Cemetery, or Flower Fund.