Frank Louis Nilsen

1921 - 2015

Frank Louis Nilsen
1921 - 2015
Frank Louis Nilsen, passed away on April 14, 2015 at the age of 93. At the time of his passing, Frank was surrounded in love by family members. Frank was born on September 15, 1921 to Norwegian immigrants Guttorm Arthur Nilsen and Dagny Louise Lerdahl. Frank was reared in the Nibley Park area and was a graduate of South High School. After graduation from high school, Frank joined the Air Force and served in Africa and Italy during World War II with the 15th Air Force. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah. Frank fell in love with a beautiful young Cadet Nurse named Olive Tingey who was attending to his father in the hospital and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 30, 1948. They had five children together, Dianne, Frankie Lyn, Carolyn, Robert and Jane. Frank and Olive were later divorced in 1993. Frank was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and was stationed in Japan for two years constructing airfields in Korea where he earned the rank of Colonel. After his return from Japan and Korea Frank was hired by Armco Steel where he remained for thirty-five years retiring as the District Sales Manager for eight Western States. Frank was an avid golfer. He was an optimistic and good-natured man who rarely, if ever, complained regardless of the difficulty of the situation. He loved his children, grandchildren and great grand children who loved him greatly in return. He is survived by his son Robert Tingey Nilsen (Kathleen), daughters Dianne Knorr (Kenton), Frankie Lynn Nilsen, Carolyn Crawford (Thomas), Jane Winkel (Von); 23 grandchildren; and 44 great-grandchildren. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, wife Olive, and his siblings, Evelyn, Art and Roy. A visitation will be held on Friday, April 17th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Winder 11th Ward of the LDS Church located at 950 East 3825 South, Salt Lake City. Funeral services will be at the same location on Saturday, April 18th at 10:00 a.m. with a family visitation at 9:00 a.m. Interment will be on Monday, April 20th at 10:00 a.m. at the Utah Veterans Memorial Park, 17111 S. Camp Williams Rd, Bluffdale. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Frank's name to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Starks Funeral Parlor. For extended obituary and online condolences visit www.starksfuneral.com