Leo Pete "Casey" Neilsen

NEILSEN,
Leo Pete
"Casey"

A longtime resident of Almira passed away suddenly from a stroke in Spokane, WA, his home for the last 20 years. Casey was born in Sprague, WA on February 11, 1925 to Christian E. and Hazel G. (Shively) Neilsen. At age 6, his father was killed in a road construction accident and Hazel, Casey and his older brother Cecil returned to Almira where the boys attended school. As they grew older, they spent a lot of time with their grandparents, Claude and Marie Shively. It was from his grandfather that Casey learned the skills of farming and building. In 1943, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Construction Battalion (Seabees) as a heavy equipment operator in the South Pacific. After his discharge in 1946, he returned to Almira and worked as a dozer operator at Grand Coulee for a short time. In 1947, he and his brother purchased the Almira Builders Supply and ran it for 10 years. He traveled the Northwest, trucking everything from shingles to cement, to supply the business. Casey and Beverly Stine were married on November 11, 1948 and lived in Almira for the next 40 years. They sold the lumber yard and began farming his grandparents place on a full time basis in 1957. During his life, he built several of the family homes, the last of which was on the farm in 1962 where they lived until their retirement in 1990. Casey was active in the community serving on the Almira Town Council, Almira Fire Department, Lincoln Mutual #1 Board, District 8 Fire Commission, and Almira Farmers Warehouse Board of Directors. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite, the Almira Community Church and had 50 years of perfect attendance with the Almira Lions Club. Casey was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, and his brother. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Beverly, his children Chris and Kate Neilsen of Almira, Debra and Cliff Steveson of Grand Coulee, Karin Neilsen of Ritzville, and Kim Neilsen of Desert Aire; five grandsons, Brian (Kathy) McKay, Ben (Aimee) McKay, Kyle (Alison) Steveson, Casey (Terri) Neilsen, and Brett (Jamie) Neilsen and nine great-grandchildren. Casey will also be missed by his pal at home, Gus. A Celebration of Casey's life will be held on Monday, January 24, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Almira Community Church. The family suggests in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Shriner's Hospital, Almira Cemetery Endowment Association, or Almira Fire Department. STRATE FUNERAL HOME, Wilbur, WA is caring for the family.