Mildred Willson

Mildred Corbridge Nielsen Wilson passed away July 25, 2018 in Meridian, Idaho, one week before her 98th birthday.
She was born August 1, 1920 in Logan, Utah to Niels Peter Nielsen Jr. and Caroline Ellen Corbridge Nielsen. She had a happy childhood in Logan, growing up the youngest child with three brothers and a sister. A younger sister died in infancy. The family was self-sufficient in lean times, raising a large garden and a milk cow. Her brothers did the milking; her job was to take the cow to pasture and back every day. She graduated from Logan High in 1938 and wanted to become a nurse. It was rare for girls to leave home in those days and she said no one thought she could do it, but she entered the Holy Cross School of Nursing in Salt Lake City. Very few in her beginning class were able to complete the difficult training but she persisted and graduated in 1941.
She worked first at the Brigham City Hospital. During World War II she worked in the Orange County Hospital in California and went on a blind date with a GI named Max Stuart Wilson, who was stationed at Santa Ana Army Air Base. He became her husband of 59 years. They were married March 15, 1945 in Logan. Their marriage was sealed in the Logan Temple on July 18, 1960.
The couple lived in California and Texas at Air Corps training bases until the war ended and they settled in Omaha, Nebraska. They became the parents of two daughters, Carolyn Ann and Diane Louise. Mildred stayed home to raise the girls until they reached junior high and high school age when she returned to nursing at Immanuel Hospital. She worked nights in labor and delivery to help finance their college educations.
In 1972 Max and Mildred moved to Salt Lake City and she returned to Holy Cross Hospital, then working days in the newborn nursery. She retired in 1984 to help her daughter Diane when she became ill. She was preceded in death by Diane in June 23, 1985; her husband on March 30, 2004; her son-in-law Daniel L. Wycherly on April 1, 2016; her parents and five siblings.
In 2013 she moved to Idaho to be close to her daughter.
Her chosen career enabled her to bless the lives of countless people and especially her family. She is an example of believing in yourself, persistence in reaching your goals and rising to conquer the challenges of life.
She is survived by daughter Carolyn Wycherly, Boise, ID; son-in-law Steven (Christine) Blockburger, Sandy, UT; nine grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren.
Arrangements are under the direction of Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery.