Gene Nicholls

Gene Howard Nicholls, 93, of Fargo, ND, died on Sunday, October 3, at Bethany On University In Fargo, ND.

Gene was born July 1, 1928, in Ypsilanti, ND, the son of Stanley and Ruth (Gomsrud) Nicholls. He graduated from Ypsilanti High School in 1946 and the following year enlisted in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort H.G. Wright, New York, HQ Harbor Defenses of Long Island Sound, where his specialty was Teletype Operator. He was honorably discharged in 1948. Upon returning home, he married Ora Jeannine Lund in Moorhead, MN and moved to Minneapolis, MN, where he attended Telegrapher’s School. When his father became ill in 1951, Gene was appointed to fill his position as U.S. Rural Mail Carrier in the Ypsilanti area. He retired in 1985 after delivering mail for 34 years. Upon retirement, he and Jeannine wintered in Mesa, AZ. They moved to Fargo, ND, in 1999.

He enjoyed watching N.Y. Yankees and NDSU Bison football games, square dancing, camping, Saturday morning rummage sales, trading for a new car yearly, being a member of the 1954 N.D. State Amateur Champion Baseball Team, attending grandkids’ sporting events and activities, and spending time with family and friends. Together with Jeannine, they traveled to England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Gene is survived by his daughter-in-law, Patricia Nicholls, Coon Rapids, MN; daughter, Joni Zink, Jamestown, ND; son, Guy (Susan) Nicholls, West Fargo, ND; sisters: Joyce Kloubec, Moorhead, MN, Ellen Orr, Jamestown, ND, and Patricia Holden, Burlington, WA; seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; sister, Maida Sjoberg; brother, Fred Nicholls; son, Jay and son-in-law, Darcy.