Ross Albert Nielsen

HYRUM, UTAH: Ross Albert Nielsen, 90, died Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at his home in Hyrum, of causes incident to age. He was surrounded by members of his family.

Ross was born August 12, 1920 in Hyrum, to Albert Nielsen and Esther Allen Nielsen. He grew up in Hyrum and graduated from South Cache High School.

After serving an LDS mission in southern California he returned to Hyrum and on April 20, 1943 married Louse Woodward of Wellsville in the Logan LDS Temple. They were married 67 years.

Ross was a successful dairy farmer in Hyrum for the first years of his marriage. He was well known as an expert beekeeper. Eventually, because of health problems, he found employment with the USDA Bee Research Laboratory in Logan and enrolled at Utah State University as an older freshman student. He went on to complete his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees. In 1965 he studied the “killer bee” in Brazil and taught at the University of San Paulo in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.

In 1966 the family moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where Ross worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the campus of Louisiana State University. His research there included development of a chemical-free method of insect pest control known as “decreased fitness.” Much of his career focused on pests of the honey bee.

Ross had wide experience in teaching and service in the community and in his church. He served as bishop in Baton Rouge. He and his wife served a full-time mission at the Washington D.C. Temple from 1980 to 1982. Since returning to Cache Valley, both Ross and Louise served in the Logan Temple as ordinance workers for many years.

Ross loved to fish and used to do quite a bit of it. One of his favorite activities was taking his fishing boat out on the bayous of Louisiana and in recent years Hyrum Reservoir.

He is survived by his wife, Louise Woodward Nielsen of Hyrum, and the following seven children: Amy Krambule of Logan; Dorothy Woolley (Bob) of Bountiful; Douglas R. Nielsen (Marlene) of Hyrum; Nedra Anderson (Tim) of Logan; Irene Anders (Paul) of Reston, Virginia; Evan G. Nielsen (Karen) of Flint, Texas; and Ralph B. Nielsen (Laura) of McLean, Virginia. He is also survived by two brothers Eldon Nielsen of Hyrum and Mark Nielsen (Rea) of Roy, Utah; and one sister, Muriel Johnson of Perry, Utah. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Errol; two sisters, Iris Hill and Diana Frank, and one grandson.

He has 35 grandchildren, 87 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. One hundred sixty-five family members fondly call him Grampy.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 11, at the Hyrum Stake Center, 600 South 200 East, Hyrum. There will be a viewing Friday, December 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center, Logan, Utah and on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 prior to services at the church. Internment will be in the Hyrum City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net .