Cantril Nielsen MD

Ivins, UT-Cantril Nielsen MD, 86, passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at his home in Ivins Utah. Dr. Nielsen was the third child out of five children to Cantril "Flash" and Margret Nielsen in Hyrum, Utah on December 9, 1937. As a young child Dr. Nielsen moved to Pocatello, Idaho. In high school he excelled in basketball, football, and baseball. He graduated from Pocatello High School in 1956 and immediately enrolled into college at Idaho State University. Cantril left for his American-Spanish LDS mission from 1957 to 1960. He returned and began attending Utah State in Logan, Utah. Shortly after he married the love of his life Sharon Evans on June 9, 1961, whom he had been courting before he left on his mission. Cantril graduated from Utah State and moved to Washington, D.C. to attend medical school in 1962 at George Washington University. He graduated in 1966 with a medical degree and completed his medical internship at LDS hospital in Salt Lake, Utah. He then enlisted in the Air Force 1967. While serving during the Vietnam War in the U. S. Air Force he was assigned temporary duty in Korea during the capture of the USS Pueblo Navy ship crisis. In Korea, he served as Captain and was a medical doctor that often was called to bring the dead back to the base. After leaving Korea, Cantril returned to his Los Angeles base in El Segundo, CA where he received a Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service in 1969 and honorable discharge. Cantril then moved his family to Salt Lake City, Utah and he began working at Primary Children's Hospital. He completed his chief residency and Psychiatry residency in 1971 and his Child Psychiatry residency in 1973. Cantril received his Psychiatry Certification in 1976 and Child Psychiatry certification in 1977 from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. He was Director Youth Services at the Utah State Hospital in 1975 to 1979, Salt Lake City Mental Health Center, White Pine Mental Health Center (Ely, Nevada), and Davis County Health Clinic. After 10 years of private practice in Salt Lake City Cantril decided to start a private practice in the State of Idaho. In 1979, he moved to Boise, Idaho and opened his private practice, Boise Children and Family Psychiatry Center. Cantril's career flourished and touched all aspects of mental health in Boise. He was on staff at St. Alphonsus Hospital and Intermountain Hospital. He worked at St. Luke's Hospital Behavioral health, Idaho Migrant Council, Allumbaugh House, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Adult and Children's program, Warm Springs Counseling Center, as well as, consulting psychiatrist for the Idaho Department of corrections and Casey Family Program. In addition, he worked for the Boise and Meridian school districts in the Therapeutic Learning Center, a program for students with emotional and behavioral needs. Cantril also traveled to work in Coeur D'Alene to provide psychiatry for all parts of Northern Idaho at the New Hope Social Services. After Sharon became a LCSW he had the pleasure of practicing with her for many years. Some of his favorite things were to bring his dogs, Hannah and Tess to work, doing volunteer work for the local high schools, and participating in the annual St. Al's Children's Classic Fun Run. Cantril started to slowly transition his practice to St. George, Utah in 1991 at Southwest Mental Health. St. George became Cantril and Sharon's permanent home in 2003. Cantril and Sharon then served a medical mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints in Frankfurt, Germany from 2004-2005. After returning to St. George, Sharon retired from her practice and Cantril continued his work and established his private practice in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. He was an active staff member at Dixie Regional Medical center. He was a consultant at Southwest Mental Health, Mountain Springs Prep Academy, Sunrise Academy (Hurricane, Utah), and Eagle Ranch Academy. Dr. Nielsen practiced medicine 57 years and loved every minute of it. Cantril was generous, compassionate and understanding to patients, as well as staff and friends. A book could not sum up all his accomplishments and humanitarian attributes. In his off time he enjoyed running, walking, and skiing, traveling with his wife, and friends, spoiling his children and grandchildren. Dr. Cantril Nielsen is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sharon Evans Nielsen and his four children, Cantril Nielsen, Tiffany Fireman, Christopher Nielsen, and Kaveri Nolind. His 6 grandchildren, Christopher, Daniel, Eric, Abigail, Cantril B., and Isabell. His son in-laws David Fireman, Adam Nolin, daughter in-law Patricia Nielsen and his sister Peggy Henry and brother Scot Nielsen. A memorial service will be held November 17, 2023 at 3 p.m. at LDS church 240 E. 1060 S. Ivins Utah 84738. Memorial service can be joined via Zoom.

Cantril Nielsen MD

December 9, 1937 - November 5, 2023