Vergie Christensen Nielsen

Vergie Christensen Nielsen of Vaughn, Montana died quietly in her sleep, July 13, 2016 in Brigham City, Utah at the age of 93. Her life spanned almost a century, from our space and computer age, back to a time of outhouses and chamber pots, homemade soap and wringer washers, coal cook stoves and feed sack dresses.
Vergie was born December 21, 1922 in Sutherland, UT, the 9th of 10 children to Hans Christian Albertinus Christensen (a native of Denmark) and Mary Larsen (a first generation American child of Danish immigrants). She was the last surviving member of her family.
During the Depression in 1931, at age 8, Vergie moved with her family to Montana in response to the Great Northern Railroad and U&I Sugar companies recruiting of capable farmers for the purpose of raising sugar beets.
Vergie attended Vaughn Grade School and graduated from Simms High School in the class of 1941. She is survived by 2 of the 6 classmates that remained friends over the intervening years: Betty Hansen Bailey Myers (Glasgow, MT) and Phyllis Jenkins Wilcox (Missoula, MT).
Vergie and her childhood sweetheart Sterlin Corbett Nielsen have been married almost 74 years braving a frigid snowstorm to be married in the Cardston Alberta Temple on November 19, 1942. Over the years they faced many hard times and trials together such as the devastating flooding which ravaged the state of Montana in 1964.
Her family of origin and married family owned two of the iconic national historical sites in the Sun River Valley: The Christensen (Adam's) Ranch with its iron horse steepled Romanesque Revival rock barn, and the Nielsen Farm (Vaughn Homestead/Couch Ranch) with its 3 story, brick, Georgian Revival "Big House", a place of hospitality and family gatherings. Sterlin's brother Jim with his wife Wanda and family lived on the farm. Vergie and Wanda (St. George, UT) became, not just sister-in-laws, but dearest friends who exchanged long newsy letters up to Vergie's death. Uncle Sterlin and Aunt Vergie were loved by all their nieces and nephews.

Vergie was a faithful farm wife and homemaker, and a dedicated mother and grandmother. She and Sterlin had 7 children: Sheila (Larry, deceased) Kolste, Belt, MT; Sherry (David) Tippetts, American Fork, UT; Cathie (Richard) Upstill, Orem, UT; Becky (Dave) Smith, Fairfield, MT; JaNae (Brad) Opheim, Vaughn, MT; Kirk (Sheri') Nielsen, Brigham City, UT; Shane (Holly) Nielsen, Salt Lake City, UT. Their posterity includes 18 grandsons, 22 granddaughters, 83 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren with one on the way. Almost all of these were gifted a pair of her unique knitted baby booties.
A faithful lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Vergie served in many callings including a mission with her husband among the Navajo Indians in New Mexico. She preferred working behind the scenes quietly serving others and doing good. Many people were recipients of her famous homemade bread and chocolate chip cookies. She will be remembered for her gracious, humble spirit and gentle, kindly ways.

The family would like to express their thanks to Dad for his concern and care of mom as her health declined; gratitude to all the Montana neighbors and friends who visited and looked after them; and appreciation to all those associated with Country Lane Assisted Living for their tender care during her last few weeks.
Funeral Services are provided by Myers Mortuary of Brigham City, Utah. A viewing will be held at Myers Mortuary on July 18 from 6:00-8:00 PM. The Funeral will be held in the Sun River Valley LDS Chapel, 845 US Highway 89, on Saturday July 23rd at 11:00 AM with a viewing prior to the service at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in the Sun River Cemetery.
VisitationMyers Mortuary - Brigham City
205 South 100 East
Brigham City, UT 84302
July 18, 2016
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
ServiceSun River Valley LDS Chapel
845 US Highway 89
Sun River, MT
July 23, 2016
11:00 AM
CemeterySun River Cemetery

Sun River, MT
July 23, 2016