Neva Nielsen, 93, died February 28, 2010, at Bramlage House, Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community, in Manhattan, Kansas.  She had resided in Independent Living at Meadowlark Hills from April 2003 to May 2009.  Neva, and a twin sister, Ruth, were born to Cynthia and Paul Nelson near Bostwick, Nebraska on June 14, 1916.  Neva married Ervin Nielsen of rural Ruskin, Nebraska on June 7, 1947.  Monty Eugene Nielsen, a son, was born to their union on May 25, 1949.  Ervin farmed and Neva helped him, as well as taught school during their nearly 25 years of marriage.  Ervin preceded her in death on April 19, 1972.  Neva had graduated from Nelson (Nebraska) High School in May 1934, having pursued Normal Training in grades 11 and 12 in preparation for a teaching career.  She began teaching in a one-room country school in Webster County (Nebraska) in the fall of 1936.  Neva first enrolled at Nebraska (Kearney) State Teachers College in the summer of 1936 to begin pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in education.  In the summer of 1970, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education Degree from Kearney State College, now UNK.  An academic scholarship exists in her name there today.  In addition, Neva also had attended the University of Washington (Seattle), the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley.  She taught a total of 30 years in several Nebraska communities, concluding her career as a third grade teacher from 1970 to 1982 at North Ward Elementary School in Superior, Nebraska.  Neva was loved and respected as a teacher.  A former board member once commented that “we need more teachers like Mrs. Nielsen.”

Neva joined Beulah (Nebraska) Reformed Presbyterian Church in her teens, then transferred her membership to Bethel Lutheran Church of Abdal, Nebraska, (and later Salem Lutheran) following her marriage to Ervin.  She was active in her church, its many organizations, and was a true believer with a deep and genuine faith.  Neva said often that her philosophy of life was “to do the best that you can with what you have been given”—she truly lived that philosophy.  Neva was a generous, kind, loving mother, grandmother, family member, teacher, and friend, and will be sorely missed by all who knew her.  She loved all of her family, the children that she taught, politics, and also baseball—the Brooklyn Dodgers were her favorite team, and Ted Williams her favorite player!

Neva is survived by one son, Monty E. Nielsen, and her daughter-in-law, Anne S. Nielsen, both of Manhattan, Kansas; two grandchildren, Monty P. Nielsen, of Brooklyn, New York, and Noreen A. Nielsen, of Washington, D.C.; several nieces and nephews, including Mary (Hobbs) Leenerts, of Overland Park, Kansas; Charley Hobbs, of Germany; Cynthia Hobbs, of Lincoln, Nebraska; James Nelson, of Tucson, Arizona; and Norma Nelson, of Wichita, Kansas; as well as several great-nieces and nephews.  In addition to her husband, Ervin, Neva was preceded in death by her parents, Cynthia and Paul Nelson; five sisters, Bertha, Clara, Erma, Ruth, and Violet; two brothers, James, and Russell; and several other family members.

A funeral service for Neva will be held at Williams Funeral Home in Superior, Nebraska on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.  Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Superior, Nebraska.  In lieu of flowers, memorials contributions can be made to the Neva Nielsen Memorial Fund and left in care of the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, Manhattan.  Online condolences can be sent to www.irvinparkview.com.