Densmer M. McIntyre, 92, Formerly of Lyons NE

Densmer M. McIntyre, 92 years, formerly of Lyons, Nebraska, passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at Oakland Heights in Oakland, Nebraska.  Memorial Service will be held Monday, February 27, 2017, 10:30 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church in Lyons.   Memorial visitation will be Sunday, from 5 to7 pm with family receiving friends at Pelan Funeral Services in Lyons.  Visitation will also be held at the church one hour prior to service.  Burial in Lyons Cemetery.   Memorials suggested to Bethany Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church, and Lyons Library

Densmer May (Smith) McIntyre celebrated her birthday on November 1924 in Lyons, Nebraska.  She passed from this life to her glory early the morning of 21 February 2017 at the Oakland Heights Care Center in Oakland, Nebraska, at the age of 92 years. She is the daughter of Leonard V. and Lona M. (Robertson) Smith.

Her years of education, grade school through high school graduation in 1942, were spent in Lyons. Densmer spent two summer weeks at Dana College for special training as a Sunday school teacher. She was involved in multiple school activities including saxophonist with the band, quartet and glee club. She excelled in Home Economics and design, earning the “Outstanding Lyons Home Economics Student of the Year Award”. She was published in a statewide magazine, created the cover for the 1941 yearbook, and designed the majorettes’ new uniform.

Following graduation, she lived in Omaha and worked at the Livestock National Bank. Densmer met Bill Nielsen at the local USO Club in 1943. They married December 1945.  Moving to Connecticut, they eventually built their home and raised their two sons, William “Bill” and Robert “Robbie” Nielsen. Densmer was employed during those years at Read’s Department Store as a buyer for various departments. She did a little modeling, worked as a clerk in the assessor’s office, later was head teller at the Connecticut National Bank and was elected tax collector in 1969. During her years in Connecticut, she also taught Sunday school, was a Scout den mother, and was involved in philanthropic, community and political activities.

Densmer returned to Lyons in 1971 to help her mother with her ailing father and Rob joined her to finish High School. She met and later married Ted McIntyre in 1973, who was then pastor of Bethany, Lyons and Immanuel, Rosalie. She served Lyons as City Clerk upon her return and purchased the L & M Dress Shop in 1978. She owned the popular store for 18 years, finally selling to her protégé and intern Lana Minton. Densmer eventually moved to the Lyons Care Center for health reasons, and later to Oakland Heights in Oakland. While in Lyons, Densmer was highly involved in community activities, her church, the Lyons Library and PEO. She introduced several young women to the clothing business, collected dolls (some 250) and was a willing and ready caretaker for her mother and many friends. She hosted the class of 1942 annual spring gathering for decades.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents; parents; brother, Robert, “Bob” Smith; niece Marsha (Smith) Kempcke; husband, Ted McIntyre.

She is survived by her sons, William “Bill” John (Sue Ellen Miller) Nielsen of CT, Robert “Rob” Leonard (Johany Franz) Nielsen of ID; daughter, Nicki J. McIntyre of NE; daughter-in-law, Cynthia O’Toole of ID; grandchildren, Robert “Robby” John Nielsen of ID, Erik Kristofer Nielsen of ID, Sharon Newman (David) Edwards of TX, Rachel (Joseph) V’Argenio of CT, Jacob Cody (Hari) Miller of CO, Sara (Bill) Kasbarian of CT; great grandchildren, Cody and Noah V’Argenio of CT, Piper Miller of CO, Austin and Aiden Kasbarian of CT; sister-in-law, Dorothy Smith of NE; brother, Leonard “Mick/Len” (Judy) Smith of WI; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

Densmer McIntyre