Elwyn Madison Nichols 96, of Reeder, North Dakota passed away peacefully on Friday, March 25, 2016 at Fort Meade Veterans Hospital near Sturgis, SD.

Service of Remembrance for Elwyn will be 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at the Centennial Chapel of Evanson Jensen Funeral Homes in Hettinger, ND. Rev. Ted and Susan Huffman will officiate and burial with Full Military Honors will follow at the Rose Hill Cemetery near Reeder, ND.


Elwyn was born in Reeder, North Dakota April 21, 1919 to Walter and Amy Nichols. He graduated from Reeder High School in 1937. He served 4 years in the United States Army during World War II. Upon returning from the war, he married his sweetheart, Vivian (Sis) Anderson. He was an integral member of many organizations; Lions Club 49 years and lifetime member of the American Legion. Elwyn ran a successful business, the Office Bar for 46 years, where a person could always count on an ice cold beer and Red Barron pizza cooked to perfection.


He has a passion for family, baseball and his country. What made Elwyn great was not a long list of grand accomplishments (although he had them), but the way he made each ordinary day extraordinary for those around him. His gentle, loving spirit was contagious. All who knew him, loved him.


Elwyn was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Vivian, his parents, his son, Dale Alan (Punk) and brothers Roy and Ray. He is survived by his son Barney of Reeder, North Dakota, daughters Liane Braun (Jerry) of Jamestown, North Dakota, and Myra Kvanvig (Pete) of Stockdale, Texas, brother Jerry Nichols of Florida, eight grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and five great-great grand children as well as extended family.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, March 28, 2016 at the Centennial Chapel of Evanson Jensen Funeral Homes in Hettinger, ND.