Michael Nigg

Michael "Mike" Laverne Nigg, 74, Sisseton, SD, passed away February 27, 2017 at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen, SD, after a long battle with COPD.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Sisseton, SD, with Father Jerry Ranek officiating. Music will be provided by organist Cindy Marohl and song leader Sandi Jaspers.
Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Beardsley, MN. Honorary urn bearers will be Mike's grandchildren. The Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt, SD, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mike was born November 5, 1942 to Merville and Elinor (Miklbost) Nigg in Sisseton, SD. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Browns Valley, MN. He grew up on a farm in Easter Township and attended Easter Township School #3 and Browns Valley High School.
Mike married Phyllis Gibson on May 25, 1963, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Beardsley, MN. They moved to Babbitt, MN, where he worked for Reserve Mining. In 1970 they moved to a farm east of Sisseton where Mike began farming and working for Clayton Week. He spent eight summers traveling with Week's custom combining crew through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Minnesota. From the mid-seventies to mid-eighties he and Donald (Bud) Schaunaman, had a pay loader and snow removal business. He also drove school bus for the Sisseton School District for 17 years, retiring in 2004.
He was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Sisseton and a member of the Knights of Columbus in which he served as Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight.
Mike loved farming and even after retiring drove combine and tractor on the family farm until his health no longer allowed. When he could no longer be in the field, he kept an active interest in the farm.
He was a lifelong fisherman and fished with his family, brothers-in-law and friends whenever he could. When he retired, he and Phyllis spent some winters in Sylvania, GA. They enjoyed their summer camping trips with family and friends at nearby lakes. Mike took pleasure in checking fields with his dog in the Gator.
Mike was known to all as a quiet man. He was patient, soft-spoken and never had a bad word for anyone. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Mike is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Sisseton; his four sons, and daughters-in-law, Dan and Kris of Sisseton, Ken and Yvonne of Watertown, Tom and Sue of Sylvania, GA, and Bob and Kimberly of Claremore, OK; his foreign exchange son, Luciano Rios of Brazil; grandchildren, Kristi, Brittnee, Katie, Breanna, Logan, David, Jaelin, Samantha, Christopher Solum and fiancée Stephanie Griffith, Cassie Solum, and Cirsten and Mike Dahl; sister, Marvel Fonder of Black Hawk, SD; brother and sister-in-law, Pat and Lois Nigg of Sisseton, SD; brothers and sisters-in-law, Pat and Mary Murphy of Two Harbors, MN, Bruce and Helen Scholl of Babbit, MN, Bill and Ruth Gibson of Browns Valley, MN, Gordon and Kathy Despiegler of Browns Valley, MN, John and Margarita Gibson of Worthington, MN, David and Rosie Gibson of Alexandria, MN, Tom and Jane Gibson of Chokio, MN, Jim and Elaine Gibson of Sandstone, MN, Kevin and Sandy Gibson of Embarrass, MN, George and Patty Amitrano of Babbitt, MN, and Gary and Diane Gibson of Melbourne, FL; an uncle, Jerry and Audrey Nigg of Green Valley, AZ; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Merville and Elinor Nigg; his father and mother in-law, Forrest and Katherine Gibson; sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Jerry Larson; brother-in-law Floyd Fonder; and sister-in-law Linda Gibson.