Kathleen (Kathy) L. Nielsen

Celebration of Life Service for Kathleen (Kathy) L. (Josephsen) Nielsen age, 81 of Arlington will be at 10:00 AM Saturday, October 26, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arlington. Officiating will be Pastor Alyssa Mitchell. Visitation will be Friday, October 25, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Home in Arlington. Inurnment will be in the Arlington City Cemetery. Kathy passed away on Sunday, October 13, 2024 at the Neighborhood in Brookings. Arrangements are with Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com, Arlington, Lake Preston, and Oldham.

Kathy was born on September 14, 1943 at the Volga Hospital in Volga, South Dakota. She was baptized, confirmed and married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arlington. She attended Common District #38 Country School and then graduated in 1961 from Arlington High School. She furthered her education going to Stewart School of Hairstyling in Sioux Falls, graduating in 1962. That same year she married Robert “Nub” Nielsen and began working at a couple places hairstyling before starting her home salon in 1967.

Kathy took tremendous pride in her 62-year career as a stylist. From working one day each week at the nursing home, to paying her last respects by doing hair at the funeral home, to picking up customers from their home, she was determined to treat all with the same respect and dedication. While the styles and technology of cosmetology may have changed over the years, one thing that didn’t change was her love for each customer and how precious every one of those customers was to her.

When she wasn’t busy doing hair, she was very active in the Arlington community and Trinity Lutheran Church. She helped with the high school band activities, chaperoned trips and served at band suppers, taught Sunday school, Luther League advisor, belonged to Circle Service Groups, delivered Communion to the home bound, provided Angel Meals to individuals and families and belonged to the city museum committee.

In her free time, she especially loved to dance with her lifelong dance partner, Nub. They would dance anytime they could at weddings, street dances and other venues and always spoke of their fabulous square-dancing memories. Kathy also enjoyed being with friends and family playing games or cards and also joining bridge club every month and celebrating monthly birthday club with a great group of ladies. When she took a break from working, she also enjoyed traveling. Nub and Kathy saw much of the United States and Europe, including their dream trip exploring the sites of Egypt with family. After Nub’s passing, she continued these activities and involved her children and grandchildren in trips to Spain, Portugal, a cruise of the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal. On occasion, she would take bus trips with friends to see unique sites across the US.

She married Robert D. Nielsen on June 23, 1962, and was married for 52 years. She is survived by her children Colonel (ret) Bradley Nielsen (Patricia Neeb) and LaShelle Bruinsma (Keith), grandchildren Patrick, Peter, Samuel and Paige Nielsen, brothers, Dale, Dennis and David Josephsen and sister, Karen Vostad.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert D. Nielsen, her parents, Joseph Marvin and Myrtle (Meisel) Josephsen; her in-laws, Jens and Clara (Moe) Nielsen; her grandparents; sister, Karla Tuttle; sister in-law, Jean (Nielsen) Lovro, sister-in-law, Deloris (Nielsen) Olson and her husband, Robert Olson and brother-in-law, Dwaine Nielsen.

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