Marianne Nielsen was born August 16, 1928, in Valley, Nebraska, to Carl and Erna Sullivan. Marianne loved the outdoors and enjoyed growing up on a farm outside of town. She helped raise chickens and dairy cows and showed cattle at 4-H.
She graduated from Valley High School in 1946. She went on to attend Midland College taking night and summer courses until she finished her degree. She taught at various country schools surrounding the Valley community, before settling at Valley Elementary where she primarily taught kindergarten. Marianne retired in the Spring of 1986.
Marianne married Wayne Nielsen in June of 1948 and they were blessed with a son, Scott. Marianne and Wayne made their home in Valley.
Marianne was very active in their community and her church. She was a member of the United Faith Community Church where she taught Sunday School for several decades and also led Bible study at the local nursing home. She was instrumental in the founding of the Valley Historical Society and an active board member until the last year of her life. She was also a member in good standing of the American Legion Auxiliary for 70 years.
Marianne’s family and friends remember her as a strong, independent woman with a kind heart. Marianne was blessed to have her son, daughter- in- law, Cindy, and her grandchildren Heidi, Holly, and Ryan live only blocks away from her home. She was able to share with them all of life’s pleasures, birthdays, holidays, sporting events and school activities. Marianne enjoyed watching her eleven great- grandchildren grow up.
Marianne loved spending time at her cabin in Gilpin County. Even after Wayne passed away she spent her summers in the Gilpin County mountains where she enjoyed the relaxing pace, making Gilpin County friends, attending St. James Methodist Church and the peacefulness of the outdoors.
Marianne passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in the comfort of her own home at the age of 93.
