Gary Glen Nelsen

Gary Glen Nelsen, 71, longtime resident and businessman, passed away peacefully at his home in Noxon, Montana on Wednesday, January 24, 2007. Memorial Services will be held at 4:00 pm (MST), Wednesday, January 31, 2007 in the Noxon School Gymnasium in Noxon, Montana. Memorial donations may be made in his honor to the Noxon Bicentennial Park, P.O. Box 45, Noxon, Mt. 59853. Gary was born on December 8, 1935 in Spokane, Wa. the son of Glen and Grace (Carmichael) Nelsen. He spent his early childhood in Noxon, Mt. His family moved briefly to Alaska and then finally came back and settled in Spokane, Wa. Gary graduated from North Central High School in 1953 and attended Gonzaga University for 2 years while participating in the ROTC program. He was involved in the US Navy Reserves for 8 years. In 1956 her married his first wife of 34 years, Shirley Nelsen, who now resides in Sandpoint, Idaho. The couple moved to Pendleton, Or., where Gary was a produce manager for Albertsons for 4 years. They moved briefly to Missoula, Mt. and then lived in Billings, Mt. for 7 years, where he continued his career in the grocery business. Then, in 1969, while he and his family were vacationing in Noxon, Mt., he found out that the McKee Mercantile, owned by Paul and Marion McKee (now the Noxon Mercantile) was for sale. He and Shirley moved their family to Noxon in the fall of 1969 and together ran the family business until 1992. Gary also began Nelsen Building Supply in 1979 and had a very successful business until 2001 when he sold the business to Kevin Johnson and retired with Pinkie, his current wife and loving caregiver. Gary’s passion was for the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, and spending time with his family and numerous friends he had during his lifetime. He was also involved in the Junior Shooters program, Noxon Water Department, and the men’s softball team for several years. He was preceded in death by his parents Glen and Grace Nelsen. He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Pinkie, a brother Ken (Linda) Nelsen of Spokane, Wa.; his children Rick (Janet) Nelsen of Kamiah, Id., Bryan Nelsen of Helena, Mt., Cheryl Aitken of Trout Creek, Mt., Jamie Nelsen of Sandpoint, Id., Nine grandchildren Nellena, Samantha, Jedidiah, Janeya, Jacob, Emily, Rachel, Kassandra and Matthias. Gary was also blessed to have a second and loving family Rex (Roxie) Weltz and their three children Mark, Andrew and Makenna of Wasilla, Alaska and also Ryan (Tamra) Weltz and their 2 children Delaney and Rylan of Noxon, Mt.