Colleen was born to Roy and Alpha Ashby Nielson on October 25, 1930 on a farm in the rural community of Leamington, UT. She had many cherished memories of the simplicity of growing up on a farm. Learning to swim in the Sevier River, hiking in the hills and riding the old, gray mare as fast as she would go were some of her childhood memories. She was the oldest of four sisters. When Colleen started school Roy gave up farming and invested in a small store (mercantile) in nearby Lynndyl where the girls learned to pump gas and sell groceries. Colleen was schooled in the three-room schoolhouse in Lynndyl 1st – 8th grade and then attended Delta High School.
After high school, Colleen studied in Cedar City, now Southern Utah University. She majored in Business and English, but her greatest love was drama and poetry. During the summers of 1949-51 Colleen worked at the Grand Canyon with college friends. This is where she met Robert Alan Fowler who was “a good looking, bright boy and student in architecture”. They were married and had two “above average” children: Lizbeth Fowler Nebeker and Robert Stuart Fowler. Two years before Liz was born Bob was awarded a scholarship to MIT and the couple moved to Boston. Colleen was hired by the head of the Machine Design Division at MIT as a personal secretary. She spoke of this time in her life with affection and pride. She also developed lifelong friendships. When her marriage ended years later Colleen practiced real estate as well as worked with the SLC Convention Bureau and the University of Utah Extension Division.
On November 28, 1976 she married LaVere Dee Poulsen M.D. He had three children: Drew, Virginia, and Jeffery. She found love and happiness with LaVere and they affectionately became known as “LaVere the Dear” and “Colleen the Queen”. Their home on Connor Street became the gathering place for all friends and family. “The Witch of Connor Street”, as Collen enjoyed calling herself, loved to cook, entertain, and fill her home with love and laughter. Countless Sunday dinners, Christmas Eve celebrations, pumpkin carving parties, and Easter Egg hunts will forever be remembered and cherished. With grandchildren, Colleen became known with adoration as “Grandma Boo”. She loved her grandchildren dearly and made each of them feel special. Colleen and Lavere also loved to travel and enjoy life together. They were lifelong learners and treasured studying abroad in Cambridge, England as well as enrolling in classes at Dixie State University. They spent 30 wonderful years together until LaVere sadly passed in April 2007.
A couple of years later a “kind and gentle” man, Garn M. Huskinson, came into her life. They married and she became a loving “bonus mom” to Garn’s children. Grandma Boo would often say, with a twinkle in her eye, that everything worked so well because “Garn is never wrong, and I am always right”. They were great companions and loved one another with tender respect for 12 years. Colleen spent the last years of her life doing what she did best - pouring love unconditionally to everyone in her life. Colleen was a believer in kind words, sincere prayer, service, generosity, uplifting and inspiring music and smothering others with her hugs and kisses. Her beautiful smile and fashionable appearance will always be vivid in our minds.
Colleen, our dear Boo, will be deeply missed. We will smile knowing that her love and beauty continues to radiate upon us. As she would always say, with the blow of a kiss, “I’ll love you and leave you”.
Colleen is survived by her sisters: Bobby and Kathlyn; daughter: Liz Nebeker; son: Stuart (Alice) Fowler; stepsons: Mark Eggen and Jeff Poulsen, grandchildren: Kristine (David) Orme, Daniel (Cortney) Nebeker, Katherine (Parker) Cook, Robert (Kailey) Fowler, Sarah (Kellen) Fowler, Thomas (Melissa) Fowler, James Fowler, William Fowler, Lacey (Cody) Wasescha, Rob (Ali) Eggen: 22 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by LaVere Poulsen and Garn Huskinson; sister, Jean (Emmy) Evertsen; daughter -in-law, Ginny Eggen and son-in-law, Richard Nebeker.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023. A family viewing will begin at 9 a.m. followed by a service at 10 a.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary 3401 S. Highland Drive. The burial will follow at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
