Blanche Nielsen was born in Swanton, Nebraska on November 14, 1912 to Adolph and Frances Jirka. She had three brothers and two sisters. Blanche’s father was a shoe cobbler and her mother was a wonderful homemaker.

After attending and graduating from Swanton High School, Blanche met and later married Richard Nielsen on February 23, 1935. Blanche’s husband, Richard, came to America on a boat from Denmark as a teenager. He was a man of many talents as he was a milkman, cab driver and maintenance man. Together, he an Blanche built two homes, with Blanche pitching in as much as anyone. Blanche was a homemaker for most of life but worked at a bomber plant in Omaha and Armour Foods during World War II. She also was an elevator operator at the First National Building.

Blanche and Richard were blessed with two daughters: June, now deceased, and Elna of Shenandoah. She also has four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Always a pet lover, Blanche enjoyed all sorts of animals but especially her miniature dachshund, Peppy.

After falling in November 2007, Blanche now resides at Garden View to be near her family.