Nelda Jean Niehaus (DoRemus) Torkelson of Tulsa, Oklahoma died Sunday October 3, 2010 in Tulsa. She was born November 20,1927 in Enid, Oklahoma to her parents Hazel Sabra (Farris) Niehaus and Royal Herman Niehaus. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, LeRoy Niehaus, and daughter Melanie (DoRemus) Goodman. She is survived by her brother Merle Niehaus and wife Allene, sister-in-law Elenka, her son Terrel DoRemus and wife Debbie, daughter Michele DoRemus, son-in-law Brad Goodman; eight grandchildren, Damon DoRemus and wife Amy, Ryan DoRemus and wife Alison, Kelton DoRemus, Kelsey Furgasen, Mackenzie Furgason, Abigail Furgasen, Clarissa Dunn, and Connor Dunn; two great grandchildren Gabriel and Jack DoRemus (sons of Damon and Amy), 3 nieces Ingrid Niehaus, Kristin Einberger, Lisa Niehaus, and 2 nephews, Dana Niehaus and Mark Niehaus.

Nelda met and married Bruce DoRemus after waiting for him to return from World War !! having served in Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal, on September 29, 1945 and they had three children. She later married Delbert Torkelson, a chief engineer for Nordam who preceded her in death.

Nelda was an educator in the Tulsa Public School system from 1959 until she was the first person hired when Tulsa Junior College, now TCC, was established. She changed many lives in her role as developer of the "Second Flight" program for older students at TJC. She received her law degree from the University of Tulsa in 1982.

She was athletic, an avid skier runner, and bicyclist, played softball and basketball in school and was a wonderful cook.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11am, Friday October 8, 2010 at All Souls Unitarian Church at 2952 S Peoria in Tulsa.