Neal Allen Nelson

Neal Allen Nelson passed away peacefully on August 24, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

Neal was born on May 5, 1939, in Preston, Idaho, to Van Emil Nelson and Orpha Rilla Kofoed. The second of three boys, Neal grew up on the family farm, where hard work was simply a part of life. He milked cows in the early mornings before heading to school and learned the values of hard work, frugality, and devotion to family, which he carried throughout his life.

Neal graduated from Preston High School in 1957, where he played in the school band and was a member of the swim team. He enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1957 and was honorably discharged in 1962. He served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Texas-Louisiana Mission. Neal graduated from Brigham Young University in 1965 with a degree in accounting.

While attending college, Neal met and fell in love with Roberta Louise Peterson. They were married on December 18, 1963, and spent more than 62 years together.

Neal and Roberta started their family in Southern California, where their first two children were born and they formed friendships that would last a lifetime. They later returned to Utah and put down roots in Bountiful, where they raised their six children.

Family was at the center of Neal's life. He and Roberta built a life filled with children, grandchildren, family dinners, traditions, and memories. Together, they welcomed 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, with another on the way.

Neal was devoted to serving others and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Decades after his mission in Texas and Louisiana, he and Roberta continued serving together in Nashville, Tennessee; at the St. George Visitor Centers; at the historic sites in Palmyra, New York; and through a local addiction recovery program and prison ministry. Neal also served as a temple veil worker.

Neal enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. He loved golf, dark chocolate, and settling into his chair with the newspaper. In later years, he and Roberta enjoyed traveling together, spending winters in St. George, and sharing time with family and longtime friends. Some of the best memories were the simplest: Neal barbecuing chicken for a family dinner, watching fireworks from the deck, or heading out for another round of golf with his friends. But perhaps his greatest joy was found in the laughter and love he shared with his children and grandchildren.

Those who knew Neal will remember a man who worked hard, lived with integrity, and cared deeply for his family. He was never one to seek attention or make much of himself. Instead, the life he built spoke for him through a marriage that endured for more than six decades, the family he and Roberta raised, lifelong friendships, and the values he quietly passed on to the generations that came after him.

Neal is survived by his beloved wife, Roberta; his children Bret (Jusun), Brad (Karolina), Amy (Zane), Kirt (Melody), and Andy (Carissa); 19 grandchildren; and his growing family of great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter and youngest child, Kellie.

Neal is also survived by his sister-in-law, Darlene, wife of his late older brother, Eldred; and his younger brother, Jerry, and his wife, Janice.

His family will miss his steady presence, his familiar place in his chair, his barbecued chicken, his love of a good round of golf, and the countless ordinary moments that, looking back, were anything but ordinary.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the Mueller Park 3rd Ward, 1825 South 800 East, Bountiful, Utah. A viewing will be held at the same location Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. before the funeral.