Obituary: Valborg Nielsen

Valborg "Val" Nielsen, 89, of Prescott, Ariz., died June 7, 2011. She was born and raised in the Danish community of Tyler, Minn. Her heritage was a driving force in her life.

In 1943, she married Roy Nielsen and they spent more than 61 years together, first in Yankton, S.D., and then 50 years in Southern California. In 2005, she moved to Prescott. She was a loving mother, aunt and Bedstemor (grandmother) who was the center of her extended family. She kept the Danish traditions alive, especially at Christmas. She enjoyed golf, fitness exercising and needlework.

Val is survived by her daughter Carol and son-in-law Linn Lisbona of Prescott, with whom she lived for the past five years; son Robert and Anette Nielsen of Fallbrook, Calif.; special niece Barbara and Joe Gardner of Prescott; grandchildren Linde, Heidi, Birka, Nils, Sigrid, and Leigh; great-grandson Owen Blue; brother Halvor and Edith Johansen of Idaho Falls, Idaho; and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Nielsen; parents Johan and Sigrid Johansen; three brothers and a sister.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nature Conservancy or Good Samaritan Society Prescott Hospice.

A special thank-you to her hospice team, Nathan, Mary, Carolynn and Sandy. A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date.

You are invited to log on to www.ruffnerwakelin.com to sign Val's guestbook and share a memory with the family.

The Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements.

Information provided by survivors.