It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Husband/Dad/Grampa, Allen Edward Nielsen on Thursday, June 19th, 2025 at the age of 91 years, at the Brooks Health Center. Allen was born to Adolf and Nellie Nielsen on January 29th, 1934 and grew up in Rainier, attending the original Alcoma School by horse and team. Allen graduated from Olds Agricultural School in 1955, which was the highlight of Allen's school years. Allen enjoyed playing baseball, curling, and 4-H Dairy and Beef club. Allen met Donna Van Leeuwen and married June 11th, 1959 residing in Rainier, for the first year and working on building the Rainier Road in the Spring of 1960. In 1961, Allen and Donna moved to Scandia, where Allen worked for 10 years as a ditch-rider for the Eastern Irrigation District. Allen and Donna welcomed a daughter Susan Marie 1960 and later a son Benjamin Edward 1961. In Fall 1970, Allen was given a promotion to Watermaster, but instead chose to move back to Rainier to take over the family farm from his Dad. Allen put many hours into building a new house and machine shop in 1979, which utilized his carpentry skills learned at Olds college and gave him such a pride of accomplishment. Allen was always involved in community activities such coaching baseball, establishing T-Ball, expanding the Rainier Hall, building a hockey rink at the Alcoma school, 4-H leader, President of Newell Grazing association, and building of an extension and parsonage garage at Scandia Lutheran church. Another highlight of Allen's career is when he was elected to the E.I.D. Board of Directors in 1993. He served for 21 years until 2014. During that time, he was involved in many EID projects including the establishment and building of the Rolling Hills Reservoir Campground. Allen and Donna celebrated 66 years of marriage at the Brooks Health Center with family and friends on 11 June 2025. Allen enjoyed his family time with his siblings, kids, cousins, grandkids, nieces and nephews. Allen is survived by his wife of 83 years Donna; his daughter Susan Marie; son Benjamin Edward (Esther); two grandchildren Megan and Melissa Nielsen, in Switzerland; sister Helen Parker of Lethbridge; sisters-in-law Deena Hoveland of Grand Prairie and Rosella Nielsen of Kamloops, B.C.; brother-in-law Rio Shanks of Lethbridge, and 13 nieces and nephews, and many cousins. Allen was predeceased by his parents, brother Arno Nielsen, sister Carol Shanks, brother-in-law Don Hoveland, and brother-in-law Lloyd Parker. The Nielsen family would like to note a special thank you for the service and professionalism of the nurses and doctors that cared for Allen for the two months he was in the Brooks Health Center and Allen's joking with the nurses. The Nielsen family will be hosting a Celebration of Life on Saturday, July 5th, 2025, at the Rainier Hall beginning at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made directly to either the Rainier Hall (Cyndi Graham), Rainier Cemetery (George Graham), Box 112, Rainier, Alberta   T0J 2M0 or Scandia Salem Lutheran Church (Leroy Nelson), General Delivery, Scandia, Alberta   T0J 2Z0.

Cremation is entrusted to and conducted at

Smith Funeral Home Ltd., Brooks