Louise V. Nielsen, 75

Louise V. Nielsen, 75, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Louise was born in Portland, Ore., on Jan. 25, 1929. She graduated from Commerce High School and then went onto Oregon State University ,where she was an Alpha Gamma Delta.

Louise then married the love of her life, Galen B. Nielsen, on Aug. 4, 1951. Galen was in the Coast Guard and they moved 14 times in the 14 years of his married military career.

From 1953 to 1960, Louise gave birth to four daughters: Carole, Karin, Gala and Jane. After Galen retired from the USCG they returned to their home state of Oregon and both returned to college, where Louise graduated with a degree in business from Oregon State and began teaching at Central High School in Monmouth/Independence in 1967. Carole, Karin and Gala graduated from Central.

Louise was an active supporter of her daughters in Jobs Daughters and taught English in the migrant worker program while in Monmouth.

In 1964 Galen and Louise bought property on the peninsula in Hope, Idaho, where the family spent summers for many years. In 1988, they built their log house on the property and their children and grandchildren still spend summers there. They also spent summers in Waterton Park, Alberta.

In 1974, Louise joined Galen in Saudi Arabia where she taught English as a second language to Saudi women, was one of the first women hired on contract by IKO, She also was an administrative assistant of the Saudi director of civil aviation, and introduced two of her daughters to their future husbands. Galen and Louise lived in Saudi Arabia until 1989 before returning to Salem, Ore.

Louise spent the years from 1989 to 1995 making sure her four daughters and growing number of grandchildren (now at a grand total of 13) were on their toes. During these years Galen and Louise built several houses for their daughters, opened a deli in Seaside, Ore., and Louise was active in the University Women's group.

In 1995, Galen and Louise moved into their log house in Hope while building their house in Clark Fork. Louise has been active in bridge groups while in Clark Fork.

Louise loved to travel and did so extensively. She has been around the world with Galen as well as traveling on her own. Louise flew to Romania to help her daughter, Gala, adopt one of her granddaughters, Ana Maria. She flew to Cairo to see her grandson Galen graduate from high school and in Christmas 2003, she flew to Doha, Qatar to visit her daughter Karin and family.

Along the way she met lots of interesting people and left a lasting impression of the best qualities Americans have to offer.

Louise Nielsen lived a joyful and blessed life and shared it with others openly. She leaves many friends behind on many continents as well as her husband, Galen, of 53 years. Her daughter Carole Fewx is the co-owner of Jackson's Bookstore in Salem and children Caitlin and Aaron also live in Salem. Daughter Karin Nielsen Noll is an elementary principal and works overseas while her children Galen, Katherine and lain are currently living in Oregon. Gala Millard is co-owner of Jackson's Bookstore and her children are Cameron (currently in the Peace Corp in Ghana), Jordan, Dallin, Ana Maria and Jackson. Jane Jondahl lives in Redmond with her children, Christian, Rachel and Aaric. Louise also leaves three great-grandchildren.

Final arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.