Bryan Eliason Nielsen

Bryan Eliason Nielsen, 90, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2026, in Brigham City, Utah, surrounded by the family he loved so deeply.

Bryan was born on April 18, 1936, in Nephi, Utah, to Oliver LeRoy and Elva Eliason Nielsen. Raised in the close-knit community of Nephi, he grew up with a love for the mountains and a strong sense of purpose. He graduated from Juab High School in 1954 and went on to serve a faithful three-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland—an experience that shaped his character and devotion for the rest of his life.

In 1959, Bryan’s life changed forever when he met his sweetheart, Beulah Voorhees, on a blind date. Completely smitten, he proposed on Valentine’s Day in 1960. The two were eternally united on June 3, 1960, in the Logan, Utah Temple. Together, Bryan and Beulah shared 66 years of devotion, raising six children and instilling in them a profound dedication to hard work and family values.

A lifelong learner, Bryan graduated from Weber State University in 1987 with a degree in Respiratory Therapy. He spent his career in the service of others, providing comfort and care during their most vulnerable moments. He worked for many years at Utah Valley Regional Hospital in Provo before seeking a new adventure in the Alaskan Frontier. After retiring in Utah, Bryan and Beulah moved to Alaska, where they spent 20 beautiful years. Bryan brought his professional talents to Providence Regional Hospital and later transferred to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Wasilla, Alaska. A man who truly loved his work, he was finally "forced" to retire at the impressive age of 76.

Bryan was a man of the outdoors and an incredibly talented craftsman. As a professional contractor, he built many homes in Nephi. His love for woodworking went far beyond a hobby; he owned a log mill, where he would turn the logs and build them into beautiful, custom log furniture and log railings. He harvested the raw wood himself, turning the labor into cherished memories alongside the many family members who would join him for the adventure. He was also an avid hiker, hunter, and fisherman. His stamina was legendary; at the age of 85 in 2021, he conquered his last big hike up "The Y" in Provo. He was famously known for taking his family on "working vacations," ensuring that even a getaway was filled with productivity, learning, and bonding. And no matter where his travels took him, he always held a special appreciation for a hotdog from Costco.

Bryan is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Elva Nielsen; his son, Kerry Lynn Nielsen; and his sister, Karma Nielsen Penrod.

He leaves behind a vast and beautiful legacy. He is survived by his beloved wife, Beulah Gayle Voorhees Nielsen; his children, David Bryan Nielsen (Rachel), Mark Eliason Nielsen (Palen Potter), Danette "Danie" Jolley (Steve), Eric Ray Nielsen (Angie Argyle), and Chazel Gayle Allen (Travis); as well as 31 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandsons, and another great-great-grandson expected to arrive in February 2027.

Bryan lived a life as rugged, beautiful, and beautifully wild as the wilderness he conquered. His legacy is etched not just in the homes he built, but in the legendary, hair-raising "Grandpa Experiences" his family will forever cherish—adventures so intense that everyone fondly laughs about just surviving them to tell the tale. His industrious spirit and fierce, unwavering love for his eternal family will continue to burn brightly through the generations he leaves behind.

Graduation to Heaven Services will be held on October 30, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home, 94 West 300 North, Nephi, Utah. Interment will follow at the Vine Bluff Cemetery, 1250 North 400 East, Nephi, Utah.