Elwin Charles Nielsen

Elwin Charles Nielsen was born on April 7th, 1931 to Charles and Retha Nielsen in Fairview, Utah. He died at home on May 28th, 2023 after a long and very private war with an insidious but secret infection, so secret that not even he knew of its existence until days before he died.

Elwin had an idyllic farm boy childhood in Fairview. His family moved to Murray when he was in high school. As a young man Elwin served a mission to the Great Lakes area, after which he was drafted to serve in Army in the Korean Conflict. After his military service, he returned to Utah to resume his education. He received Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate of Psychology degrees from the University of Utah. It was while he was working on his doctorate that he met his sweetheart, Marilyn Hamilton of Sugar City, Idaho. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1960.

Elwin had at least one job almost all his life. When he was in the 9th grade he started working at JC Penneys, and continued working there after his military service and until he finished school, supplemented a few summers by working for a River Raft expedition company, paddling the Colorado and Green Rivers in rubber rafts and canoes. Upon receiving his Ph.D. he was employed by the Granite School district as their head Psychologist.

When he was asked to start a new clinical therapy program at Utah State University Psychology Department, Elwin and Marilyn moved their little family of three young children to Logan. Once there, he also opened the first clinical private practice office in Logan. He continued with both of these jobs through his career, and also served a term as President of the Utah Psychological Association. He gave years of service to the Cache Employment Training Center, and served on the State of Utah Department of Business Regulation Licensing Commission.

Elwin was an excellent teacher and the Utah State program produced many fine therapists who were quickly and easily placed around the country. But perhaps his greatest strength was as a therapist himself, helping many people in the intermountain region when they most needed help. Elwin saved many marriages, changed many lives, and helped many people make it through very dark times.

Elwin was a man of faith and was active in the LDS church, holding many positions and callings. He is survived by his wife Marilyn and their three children: Scott (& Karma) Nielsen, Stacy Patton, and Kristin (& Chip) Davis, and six grandchildren, and his sister Charlene (& Allen) Kimball and brother Clint Nielsen.

Contributions accepted in memory of Elwin to a Graduate Student Research Scholarship established in his name. https://cehs.usu.edu/psychology/doctoral/scholarships
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Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 2nd at 1:00 pm in the Lundstrom Park 2nd Ward. There will be a viewing held on Thursday at the Allen Mortuary of North Logan, 420 East 1800 North and also at the church on Friday from 11:30 - 12:30 am. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. with military honors. Funeral services will be broadcast live at www.allenmortuaries.com
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