Donald A. Nickolauson

Donald A. Nickolauson, 93, Sisseton, SD, passed away Thursday, April 25, 2019, at the Veterans Hospital in Fargo, ND.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 30, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Sisseton with Rev. Patrick Jenkins officiating.  Music will be provided by organist Ollie Yost.

Burial will be in the Sisseton Cemetery.  Military honors will be provided by the Fort Sisseton VFW Post 3342 and the Otto-Quande-Renville American Legion Post 50 of Sisseton. Pallbearers will be Daniel Nickolauson, Jason Nickolauson, Joey Egan, Delton Egan, Jr., David Netzloff, Blake Sisco, and Cory Christen.

Visitation will be Tuesday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Donald Albert Nickolauson was born February 12, 1926, in Browns Valley, MN, to Albert and Tolly (Tober) Nickolauson.  He attended school through the eighth grade in Sisseton.  In April 1944, he was drafted into the United States Navy.  While in the service, he was on the USS Reno when it was torpedoed on November 3, 1944.  Donald returned to Browns Valley from service in the Navy in 1946.

On May 16, 1956, Donald married Verna Egan in Wilmot, SD.  They moved to California with son Delton for one year before returning to Browns Valley to farm with his father-in-law William Egan.  Donald and Verna had their additional six children over the next eight years.  Donald started well drilling with Dayton Morse for a few years.  He then worked at the stone quarry in Milbank where he learned to weld.  Donald and Verna moved the family to St. Paul in 1967.  Donald worked for Peerless Welders until 1986 when the company closed, and he retired.  Donald retired to Wisconsin in 1989.  Donald returned to Sisseton in 2017 when his health started to fail.  He lived at Edgewood Vista until he passed.

Donald was a member of the Lewis Memorial VFW Post 10232 of Frederic, WI, where he served as a past commander.  He enjoyed woodworking, building things with his hands, and telling jokes and riddles.  He also enjoyed fishing, camping, and being outside.

Survivors include Verna Donner (Nickolauson); three daughters, Cheryl (Dale) Kaufman of Sisseton, Gladys (Tim) Holtz of Stanchfield, MN, Julie Nickolauson of New Richmond, WI; four sons, Delton Egan of Sisseton, Terry Nickolauson of Grand Rapids, MN, Brian (Lori) Nickolauson of Wyoming, MN, and Curtis (Christine) Nickolauson of Ironton, MN; one brother, Lavern Nickolauson of Sisseton; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Donald is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Marvin "Nickel" Nickolauson and Delvin "Tiny" Nickolauson; two sisters, Betty Jean Herrin and Lila Rayburn; and four grandchildren.