Mildred Nielson Hansen

Mildred Nielson Hansen, 99, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 in Logan, Utah. She was born July 29, 1910 in Moore, Idaho to Michael and Anganetta Nielson. She was the 6th of 9 children. She grew up in Idaho and attended school there.
Shortly after high school her family moved to Logan. There she met H.D. “Swede” Hansen at a dance and shortly thereafter fell in love. Although they were young, they decided to get married. They were married on April 1, 1927. She claimed only a fool would get married on that date. Little did she know that they would be married for 79 years before Swede passed away in 2007. Mildred was extremely proud of her many years with Swede, and they were recognized by Utah Governor Michael Leavitt in 2003 for having a “Gold Medal Marriage.”
Mildred was essentially raised in the movie theater business. Her father purchased his first movie theater when she was five years old and Mildred began working for him when she was only six. Her job was to stamp the handbills with the information advertising the movie that was playing. At the age of ten she began playing the automatic organ for the silent pictures. When she was eleven years old she began working as a cashier and never looked back. After she married Swede, they operated many movie theater ventures, and eventually purchased the Utah Theatre. They ran the Utah together until 1982 when they sold it. Mildred continued to work at the Utah Theatre well into her eighties selling and tearing tickets. While she considered being in the movie business hard work, Mildred also loved what she did. She found extreme satisfaction in providing a small escape from the real word for her loyal patrons over the years.
Mildred was proud of her accomplishments as a businesswoman and was an active member of the Logan Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) club and the Soroptimist Club. It was in these organizations that she made many lifelong friends. She thoroughly enjoyed being involved in the community. In 1982 she was honored by BPW as Woman of the Year. They recognized her for her leadership and integrity as well as her efforts to better her community.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She enjoyed being a visiting teacher and many of the friendships she made while serving in her ward.
Mildred was very proud of her family. She and Swede had two children, Colleen (Clair, deceased) Chugg of Las Vegas, NV and Keith (Dane) Hansen of Providence, UT. She was also blessed with six grandchildren, Deon (Herb) Poort of Las Vegas, NV, Randall Chugg of Las Vegas, NV, Ronald Chugg of Las Vegas, NV, Lorin Kerry Chugg (deceased), Brittany (David) Milligan of Spanish Fork, UT, and Trevor Hansen of Manila, Philippines. She also had six great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. She always loved spending time with her grandchildren and was always very generous. One of the best gifts that she gave them was a book that she wrote in 2000, chronicling her life story.
She was preceded in death by her husband Swede, her parents and siblings, son-in-law Clair Chugg and one grandson, Kerry Chugg.
Graveside services will be held Monday, Nov. 2nd at 12:00 p.m. at the Logan City Cemetery, 1200 East 1000 North, Logan, Utah. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net