Alan “Swede” Ralph Nielsen

Alan “Swede” R. Nielsen, 93 of Boelus, passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at Brookefield Park in St. Paul.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Grace United Methodist Church in Boelus. A lunch will be served immediately following the service at the Boelus Community Center until 12:30 P.M. Interment will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park in Grand Island.  Pastor Kalaba Kapunda will be officiating.

Visitation will be from 5-7 P.M. on Friday, August 23, 2024, at Grace United Methodist Church in Boelus. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date.  Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul is assisting Swede’s family.

Alan was born on March 13, 1931, to Niels and Anna (Goltermann) Nielsen in Grand Island, Nebraska.  He attended school in Boelus and graduated with the Class of 1949.  He received the nickname “Swede” at a very young age from his bus driver. He enjoyed competing in sports and excelled especially in baseball, basketball and bowling.  Swede was a self-employed construction contractor for many years.  Alan was united in marriage to Joan Thornton on November 22, 1951- Thanksgiving Day in Boelus.  They were members of Grace United Methodist Church in Boelus.  He was very instrumental and was one of the founding fathers of Centura Public School where he served on the school board for 20 years.  He also served on the Boelus School Board for 10 years.  Alan was a 30-year member of the Boelus Volunteer Fire Department.  His hobbies included playing cards, fishing, and hunting. His favorite pastime hangout was the Gold Nugget in Boelus.

Those left to cherish his memory include his sons and daughters-in-law, Paul and Vickie Nielsen of Superior, Alan Ray and Shelly Nielsen of Boelus, Donna Nielsen of St. Paul; daughters and sons-in-law, Sarah "Sally" Sazama and Dave Andrews of Shelton, Connie Steele of Grand Island, Toni and Paul Bentz of St. Paul; grandchildren and spouses, Jade and Michelle Nielsen, Randy and Aimee Nielsen, Niels Matthew Nielsen, Scott Nielsen, Sam and Sasha Nielsen, Annie Nielsen and Adrian Rasmussen, Marcus and Tami Nielsen, Timmery and Joe Parr, Hillary and Tyler Shiers, Seth and Danielle Sazama, Abbie and Jared Mauler, Maggie and Chris Gannon, Nick and Brooke Steele, Andrew and Christina Steele, Lance and Lisa Steele, Brock and Deidre Nielsen, Becca and Levi Syring; step-grandchildren, Michelle Heiberger, Joel Bentz, Lonnie Bentz, Brian Bentz, Shane Bentz, Mali Barber, Adam Barber, Josh Andrews, Matt Andrews, and Christina Baker; 35 great-grandchildren; 30 step-great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren on the way; brother-in-law, Ken Dearing of Oklahoma.

Alan was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joan Nielsen; son, Mark Nielsen; son-in-law, Willie Steele; and granddaughter, April Nielsen.