Alta Nielson

Alta Orr Nielson, of Orton, Alberta, passed away in Fort Macleod on Monday, October 23, 2023, at the age of 104 years. 

Alta is survived by her brothers Wayne (Carol) Orr of Orton, and Keith (Marlene) Orr of Orton, her sister Marilyn (J. Lloyd) Spencer of Ottawa, and her children; Lloyd (Eileen) Nielson of Denver, Myrle (Barney) Taylor of Strathmore, Paul Nielson of Fort Macleod, Norma (Ralph) Guenther of Oklahoma City, Darlene (Everett) Speidel of Edmonton, and Joanne Nielson of Fort Macleod, as well as 16 grandchildren and 74 great-grandchildren.

Alta was born March 10, 1919, on a farm in the Orton district, the daughter of Ernest R. Orr and Mary E. Hornberger. She grew up in the Orton area where she attended Orton’s one-room schoolhouse. After graduating from Garbutt Business College in Calgary she obtained employment with the Department of National Defense in Ottawa during World War II. She married George Albert Nielson on October 29, 1942. After the war they made their home in Calgary where they raised their six children. As the family grew, they enjoyed happy times in the outdoors, camping, hiking and many vacations to family reunions. Albert passed away on September 17, 1975, at the age of 61 years. They had shared 33 years together.

After 20 years of working for the Calgary Board of Education she retired to her cedar-log home in the Orton Village. Her two acres of grass, trees, and garden kept her active and outdoors. Alta had a strong work ethic, and a spirit of independence and self-reliance. She was a wonderful cook, baker, gardener, seamstress, and homemaker, but most of all she was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother. Many times, when her children and grandchildren would leave after a visit she would say “Come again”. Besides her family, Alta’s great love was found in service to her Church. She was a member of and faithfully attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She spent many hours doing family history and genealogy research. 

A Celebration of Life was held at 11:00 AM, on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Fort Macleod.  Alta was laid to rest in the Orton Cemetery.

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