Dorthy Jo Nielsen

Dorthy Jo Jones Choate Nielsen, peacefully passed into eternity with Jesus on March 20, 2025. She was born April 3, 1942, in Ola Arkansas, to Robert Thomas Jones and Minnie Velva Crites Jones. She grew up in a farming community during the Great Depression Era and helped her Mama with farming chores that many of us know nothing about now thanks to the conveniences of modern living. She grew up listening to Country music, it was totally different in that day, as it told of folk stories and clean comedy stories. She knew a lot of the music star’s names and their songs, and her husband would get such a kick out of her singing some of them! She could belt out a line from a song about almost anything! A little later, her love for Southern Gospel music grew after she developed a love for Christ and songs about Him and His love for us.

She is preceded in death by her parents who have been gone for almost 50 years, her younger brother Bobby Charles Jones, many cousins, Aunts and Uncles, hosts of friends who were brothers & sisters in Christ, and her beloved husband of 33 ½ years, William (Bill) Nielsen.

She is survived by her daughters: Toni (Rickey) Weems and Deborah (Larry) Buggar; granddaughter, Amber (Michael) Meeks; grandsons, Jeremy (Andrea) Weems and Ethan (Kristin) Buggar; great grandchildren, Makaila Meeks, Aiden Weems, and Kyra Weems; sister-in-law, Connie Jones; nieces, Cynthia Jones and Jacrall Jones Underwood; nephew, Brad Jones; as well as great nieces and nephews.

Dorthy worked for Gerald Baxley at Baxley DeLamar Monument Company for over 40 years. She was the secretary/office manager during her tenure, and she met thousands of people from Saline County and the surrounding area. She helped many people through the emotional task of picking out a monument/marker and services and what to have placed on it for their loved one’s memory. She witnessed for Christ to thousands of people while working at her job.

She was a member of Benton Foursquare Church for over 40 years. She loved and served the Lord in different capacities at the church. She started leading song service back in 1980 and continued until the church closed in 2019. She taught the Senior High Sunday School Class for several years and served as treasury and president over the Foursquare Women’s International Group.

To honor and celebrate her life, and the extraordinary woman that Dorthy was, a visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at Smith Benton Funeral Home, with a service at 10:00 AM on Thursday, March 27, 2025. She will be laid to rest at Old Rosemont Cemetery immediately following the service Thursday morning.

Pallbearer honors entrusted to: Ethan Buggar, Jeremy Weems, Justin Crain, and Rickey Sheridan; as well as honorary pallbearers: Larry Buggar; Russell Cauldwell, and Rickey Weems.

Dorthy will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

We kindly say “Thank You” to Amberwood Health and Rehab for taking care of her over the past year and 8 months. She made an impact on several staff members. We also extend our gratitude to Gentiva Hospice for the comfort they provided to her and to the family during her last days.