Service of Remembrance for Chris Nilsen, 27, of Reeder, ND will be Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon, SD. Rev. Ken Miller will officiate and burial will follow at Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger, ND and one hour prior to the funeral on Wednesday at the church in Lemmon. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Tuesday evening in Reeder, ND at 7:30 p.m. at the Lutheran Church.

CHRIS LYNN NILSEN was born on June 25, 1979 in Hettinger, ND to Floyd and Jackie (Seidel) Nilsen. He grew up on a farm near Shadehill, SD and was baptized at the Rosebud Lutheran Church. Chris attended grade school in Lemmon, SD through the fifth grade. His family moved to Hulett, WY where he finished his freshman year in high school. Chris was active in wrestling, football and track. He moved to Reeder in the spring of 1996, where he graduated from Scranton High School in 1999. During school he began working for Eaton Farms near Reeder. Chris attended North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND where he became a certified welder, graduate of 2005. He continued his education in Machinist/Toolist and advanced welding. He was a half credit short in English for an associate's degree in Welding and Certified Machinist. While at NDSCS, he tutored other students, was the President of the Welding Club and during his first year at school was on the President's List.


Chris worked various jobs throughout the years, but was back working for Eaton's. He truly enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing and camping. Chris also enjoyed hanging out with his many friends and like having fun with everyone he knew. Chris was talented at building things and used his skills well. Most of all, Chris loved his family and friends, with all of his heart.


Chris Nilsen was involved in a motorcycle accident on May 26, 2007 in Scranton, ND. He was flown to Bismarck, ND where he remained until his death on June 14, 2007 at Med Center One.

Grateful for having shared his life are his mother, Jackie Nilsen, Reeder, ND; his father, Floyd Nilsen, Gillette, WY; brothers, Bill (Diane) Seidel and their daughter, Sammi, of Rapid City, SD and Darren Nilsen, Gillette, WY; grandmother, Ardys Nilsen, Sundance, WY; his special friend, Jennifer Kostuck, Reeder, ND and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Chris was preceded in death by his grandfather, Milo Nilsen, grandparents, Jack and Selma Seidel, uncles Merle and Leonard Nilsen, aunt, Charlie Nilsen, cousins, Charles and Carol Nilsen and a special friend, Jenni Schmidt, along with numerous great aunts, great uncles and cousins.

Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Evanson Jensen Funeral Homes, Hettinger, ND and Lemmon, SD.