Obituary for Ralph "Nick" Leroy Nicholsen
RALPH "NICK" LEROY NICHOLSEN was born on December 4, 1945 to Terman J. and Elizabeth K. (VanRoekel) Nicholsen in Tyler, Minnesota. He was raised on the family farm in Altona Township, Pipestone, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed at the Verdi Methodist Church in Verdi, Minnesota. He received his education, graduating from Verdi High school in 1963. After completing his education, he worked for several farmers until he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Over the next four years, he served in Texas, New Jersey, Alaska, Okinawa, and Vietnam during the TET Offensive. Upon receiving his Honorable Discharge in 1968, he returned home and drove truck for Arnie Griebel and Clair Larson.
On December 22, 1972, he was united in marriage to Sandra Backer in Ruthton, Minnesota. He drove truck for Bayliner and Schwans for ten years. In 1991, after having his third back surgery, he had to give up driving and he relocated to Shakopee, Minnesota. While he was there, he worked at Mystic Lake Casino, was a real estate salesman, and later managed the VFW Club Post #4046 in Shakopee. In 2008, upon retiring, he returned to Pipestone, Minnesota to be closer to his family. In mid-September of 2014, Nick went into hospice care at the Golden Living Center in Slayton, Minnesota. On October 3, 2014, Nick passed away there after a valiant fight with Renal Cell Carcinoma Cancer at the age of 68 years, 9 months, and 29 days.
Nick was a personable man and enjoyed shaking dice and telling jokes. He was an excellent husband, father, step-father, and grandfather. He was a member of the Michael Boock American Legion Post #6 and a lifetime member of the Pipestone VFW Post #3814.
Nick is lovingly remembered by his wife of 41 years, Sandra; his children, Kari Nicholsen and her daughters Kylee and Alexis of Hawarden, Iowa, Jeff (Glenna) Backer and their daughter, Rachelle of Pipestone, and Gregg (Nicola) Backer and their children, Jesse and Chantelle of Pipestone; one great grandson, Kyle Hoffman of Pipestone; two brothers, Harold Nicholsen of Verdi, Minnesota, and Hans (Linda) Nicholsen of Forest, Virginia; one brother-in-law, Gerald (Maureen) Barry of Chatfield, Minnesota; one sister-in-law, Kaye (Duane) DeCroock of Jasper, Minnesota; Kyle’s mother, Emily Hoffman of Pipestone; and Nick’s faithful puppy, Shiloh.
Nick was preceded in death by his parents, Terman and Elizabeth Nicholsen; his parents-in-law, Mathew and Lois Barry; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.