Kingston, Utah - Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, neighbor and friend, Lena Bell Cowley Nielsen, age 89, passed away in Preston, Idaho on May 29, 2026. She was born on December 30, 1936 to Rodney Alonzo Cowley and Urania May Anderson in Venice, Utah.

Lena grew up in Venice and loved being outdoors and riding her big horse, "Roney". She loved to sing and was lucky to sing in the musical group "Rocky Mountain Wranglers" with her sisters. She attended Richfield High School, graduating with the class of 1955.

Lena married Rue Jolley. Together they had three children; Kerri, David and Dallen. They later divorced. She married Leslie George Nielsen on June 14, 1968, in Venice, Utah and became a mother to his children, Kip, Shellie and Wendy. Together, they had their son, James. They decided to raise their new family of seven children in Kingston, Utah. Leslie and Lena were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Manti LDS Temple on October 18, 2003.

Lena was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in the Relief Society, Primary, music positions and the Cub Scouts. She enjoyed serving as postmistress of the Kingston Post Office for 27 years. Her hobbies included music, art, sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting and she LOVED her garden! In her later years she LOVED to mow her lawn with her riding lawn mower.

Lena is survived by her children: Leslie Kip and Linda Nielsen of Hurricane; Shellie and Sheldon Coleman of Elsinore; David Brent and Tammy Jolley of Cedar Hills; Wendy and Sam Fullmer of Elsinore; Dallen and Darlene Jolley of Dayton, Idaho; James and Lily Nielsen of Taylorsville; 17 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Leslie G. Nielsen and daughter, Kerri Swartzmiller.

Graveside services for Lena will be held at 12:00 Noon on Monday June 8, 2026 in the Kingston Cemetery, Kingston Utah. Friends may call for viewing from 9:00- 11:00 A.M. in the Richfield Springer Turner Funeral Home Chapel, 260 North 400 West, Richfield, prior to services.

Burial will be in the Kingston Cemetery under the care of Springer Turner Funeral Homes of Richfield and Salina, Utah.