The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the May 20, 2010 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Funeral services for John Deasy Nielson will be held on Friday, May 21, 2010 in the Thayne LDS Stake Center at 11 a.m. Viewings will be held Thursday, May 20 from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne and again Friday, May 21 from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church.  John was born March 10, 1937 in Blanding, Utah to Morgan Leon and Helen Deasy Nielson.  He attended schools in Blanding and after graduation working as a truck driver hauling Uranium Ore in Southern Utah. He then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Australia. Following that, he attended BYU, graduating in 1963 with a degree in History and Political Science.  While attending BYU, he met and married the love of his life, Sharon Pendlebury, from Blackfoot, Idaho. They were married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple in 1963.  Together they joined the Peace Corps, serving as elementary school teachers in Tanzania, East Africa for a period of two years. From this experience, John developed a love of traveling to different countries and learning about the people.  After coming home, he obtained a Masters Degree in Geography from the University of Utah. They then moved to Indiana where he went to the University of Indiana. While he was working on his doctorate, John was offered a position in the Geography Department at Ricks College, where he taught Geography and World Affairs for 31 years, retiring in 1999. Moving from Indiana to Rexburg, they began their family and raised six children, two boys and four girls.  John was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in two Bishoprics, as a Counselor in the Rexburg North Stake Presidency and a High Counselor in the Rocks College Stake.  While in the Rexburg First Ward, he was High Priest Group Leader and Young Men’s President. He held numerous teaching positions and was currently Secretary of the High Priest Group in the Thayne First Ward. He and his wife served in the Idaho Falls Temple and then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Kenya, Nairobi Mission.  As a young man, John enjoyed playing basketball and running. He later developed a love for gardening, camping and outdoor activities. He loved reading, playing chess, wood working and spending time with his family.  John is survived by his wife of 47 years, Sharon, of Star Valley Ranch; children, Eric (Becky) Nielson of Sturgis, Mich.; Anne (Dave) Boyack, of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho; Alisa (Bret) Webster, of Tucson, Ariz.; Kevin (JaNae) Nielson of Rexburg; Lucinda (Chris) Blackburn of Idaho Falls; and Kelly Nielson of Boise; 15 grandchildren; two sisters, Helen Shumway and Nancy Redd; two half-sisters, Amy Sorensen and Alberta Albertano.  John was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Natalie Richards; a half-sister, Grace Nielson; and grandson Brycen Blackburn.

Our beloved daughter, Trinity Evelyn Coesens, you sweet spirit touched and changed our lives forever. We will miss the long talks together and the soft nudge of your kicks and movements assuring us everything is ok.   Trinity, you mother Kalli Ann Coesens and your father Isaac Dennis Coesens will always love, cherish and never forget your beautiful, innocent face. You are our perfect angel.  Funeral services for Trinity are to be held Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the Shelley, Idaho Cemetery.

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