Family coping with the death of snowmobiler

Raysha Nielsen who died in a snowmobiling accident February 22, east of Franklin, Idaho.

LOGAN — Funeral services will be held Friday for Raysha Nielsen, the 21-year-old wife and mother killed in a snowmobiling accident Saturday afternoon, east of Franklin, Idaho.

The services will be held at the Smithfield South Stake Center, 451 South 250 East in Smithfield, Utah.

Nielsen’s older brother Radley Gladfelder said the family decided to start the funeral at 1:13 p.m., in honor of Raysha’s love for snowmobiling.

“For snowmobile racing I was number 112 and she chose 113 because it was right next to my number,” said Gladfelder. “And so she always ran 113, so that is what time we’ll start the funeral services at 1:13 p.m. because that’s her race number.”

Raysha was the daughter of Rich and Shellie Gladfelder. She grew up in Smithfield, graduating from Sky View High School in 2010.

She was married to Cory Nielsen and had one son, three-year-old Traxton.

Gladfelder said his family has had a hard time dealing with her death but have been comforted in knowing that she died doing what she loved.

“Hard as it is for me to say that, she loved it,” said Gladfelder. “That’s what she was all about. She was all about family, giving back, and snowmobiling.”

A memorial fund has been set up at local Wells Fargo branches. Family members are also selling “Ride for Raysha” stickers. The proceeds from the stickers will be going to Nielsen’s husband and son.

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