Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Nicolais remembered as a wonderful team

Nicolais remembered as a wonderful team

Oct 09, 2008 - 04:05:59 CDT

By KAREN HERZOG
Bismarck Tribune

Pastors and parishioners who knew the Rev. John and Lorraine Nicolai were still working through their shock Wednesday following the deaths of the couple in a car accident Tuesday morning at Dickinson.

Nicolai, 84, and his wife, Lorraine, 81, were a longtime, well-known Bismarck couple; Nicolai was a pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck from 1955 until his retirement in 1989.

The couple made a huge impact at Trinity, said the church's senior pastor, the Rev. Steve Sathre.

"Warm and fun," Sathre described Nicolai; at Trinity's centennial celebration in September, Nicolai was "just in his glory, seeing people come back," Sathre said.

The word that describes him aptly was "connection," Sathre said. "He was totally involved with the community in so many ways, a huge sports enthusiast" who loved high school sports.

Nicolai trained as a social worker before entering the ministry, so he had "a helping heart, all that compassion, and brought the faith element, too," Sathre said

"He was personally interested in you. Made connections, kept up connections, was so excellent at it."

During the Nicolais' years there, "they worked together as a wonderful team, complemented each other,"he said.

People have been calling Trinity, reacting to the couple's deaths with shock and disbelief, Sathre said. "They can't believe it happened, especially that both of them are gone is double overwhelming."

The Rev. Robert Lynne, former bishop of the Western North Dakota Synod of the ELCA, said that the impact that the Nicolais had on Trinity and on the Bismarck community was nothing but positive.

From his involvement in service clubs, community activities, the Lions Clubs and Buckstop Junction, "everybody knew Nick, everybody liked Nick," Lynne said. "I think he was a tremendous human being."

Lynne also called John and Lorraine a great team. Lorraine Nicolai was "the ideal pastor's wife, one of the most positive ladies in the church you ever discover,"he said.

Rather quiet and somewhat reserved, Lorraine Nicolai was very self-giving, always positive and supportive, he said: "She was really a wonderful lady."

Lynne came to Bismarck in the fall of 1960 and has known the Nicolais since then.

"Nick, he loved a good joke. He had a good sense of humor, was giving of himself, supportive of the church."

The couple were two very warm personalities,he said - "they lived their Christian faith.""

Nicolai retired 19 years ago, and Sathre remembered his own years as a young pastor coming into Trinity. Nicolai treated him as a member of the team from the beginning, he said.

"When I came on board here, he and Hensel Hendrickson had served together for 25 years and I was this young pastor coming in," Sathre said. "He was so gracious ... just awesome.

"Speaking at the funeral of someone like John and Lorraine, it's so easy. Nick and Lorraine's gifts were so obvious," Sathre said.

"You celebrate their lives and the blessings they brought. You celebrate the God that they loved and the resurrection."

Among his other activities, Nicolai served in the 1970s as the chairman of the Committee on Children and Youth of the Governor's Council on Human Resources.

Anative of California, Nicolai served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, graduated from Luther Theological Seminary in 1952, and served at Dunn Center before coming to Bismarck. Lorraine (Solberg) Nicolai was a native of Butler, S.D. The couple has five children.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at Parkway.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Further arrangements are pending at Parkway.

(Reach reporter Karen Herzog at 250-8267 or karen.herzog@;bismarcktribune.com.)

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Comments

AM wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:54 PM:

" My husband and I were saddened to hear about the death of Pastor John and Lorraine. I remember Pastor Nick when I teenager, always encouraging the teens to be the best they could be. He was my husband's Pastor as he was Confirmed,performed our wedding in 1973 and even after we moved from Bismarck we returned so he could baptize our two children. He had a heart of gold and a great sense of humor and both had a love for people of all ages. We pray the Lord's compassionate arms to hold the family close and comfort the many people who's lives were touched by this wonderful couple. "

Rochelle wrote on Oct 12, 2008 1:47 PM:

" I met Pastor Nick and Lorraine through Renee and my relatives, Leo and Eva Swanson. I was so touched when my aunt Eva's funeral occurred while my uncle Leo could not leave the hospital. Pastor Nick stayed with him during the service time so he wouldn't be alone while Lorraine helped at the service and reception. He had such a special touch. We have stayed in touch visiting here in Arizona and North Dakota in the following years. What a shock since I had just seen them in mid July. God must have called them for a job for them in heaven. "

Cliff Lynne N. wrote on Oct 11, 2008 11:41 PM:

" We have been so blessed to be part of John and Lorraine's life. They are lifetime members of the Buffalo Plain's in Lily SD, and had the passion to keep the church/Buffalo plains dream alive. They stayed with us at our hunting lodge this summer and with each visit, our time spent together was so much fun. Lorraine is my cousin. Our thought and prayers go out to all the family and freinds. We will surely miss them both. "

Ray Hendrickson wrote on Oct 10, 2008 5:27 PM:

" Pastor Nick was my youth pastor and our youth choir director. He gave so much of his time and energy to the church and youth program and was an inspiration and mentor to so many of us. And yes, Pastor Nick had great humor and wit! I knew his son Randy and daughter Renee, two wonderful people. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. God Bless! "

Don S wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:20 AM:

" I thought of Pastor John as an older brother, as he stayed with our family in Lily,SD , as he interned at our Lutheran Church. My mother Anne, was the one who introduced her neice Lorraine, and John in St Paul, Mn,and the rest is history. We spent a lot of time together and there is not enough space to put it all down here. Our prayers go with their family as Pastor John & Lorraine will be with family and friends now too. My wife Joyce and I were married by Pastor John on 9/06/96, and we will always remember them. God Bless You All. "

HG wrote on Oct 10, 2008 2:54 AM:

" Pastor Nick and wife Lorraine were a constant in my life growing up in Bismarck.
This lovely couple was there to celebrate times of joy and guide and comfort us through times of loss. We have lost a truly inspirational example of humanity. God bless their children and their families. "

Dorothy Westphal wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:52 PM:

" To Pastor Randy, I am so very sorry to hear of the tragic accident that took the lives of your parents. I`ll keep you in my prayers.God Bless You and the whole Nicolai family. Dorothy from Epping Lutheran Church "

CK wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:55 PM:

" To curious

Their son married the woman who was left to freeze to death
in a storage unit by her estranged husband. "

Barb wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:46 PM:

" Remember Pastor Nicolai from bible camp in the 70's. Always fun and someone who lived his faith. "

Sarahr wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:50 PM:

" Don't know this couple...but, May God be with them and their families!!!! "

a Trinity member wrote on Oct 9, 2008 6:40 PM:

" As someone who grew up going to Trinity, I will always remember how supportive Pastor Nick and Lorraine were of the youth programs. They were always willing to give their time or support our fundraisers. They were an amazing example of the Christian life and my hope is that someday I can say I've positively impacted even half the number of people they have touched. "

Dana Burnell Vollan wrote on Oct 9, 2008 5:33 PM:

" We are so sad to hear the news. Pastor Nick married us in 1984 and shortly after we moved to the Phoenix area. Wonderful family including Susan who gave me a little extra help in playing the flute. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you all as they will be missed.Take comfort in knowing they left positive footprints in the hearts of all who knew them. "

Gail Born Mesa AZ wrote on Oct 9, 2008 4:59 PM:

" Pastor Nick and Lorraine became associate members at St. Peter Lutheran here in Mesa after he retired. The past few years Pastor Nick sang in the choir and we loved having him, his sense of humor was very contagious. They were a great team, and will be greatly missed. "

EMW wrote on Oct 9, 2008 3:29 PM:

" To Cindyloo: Yes. That's correct.

I am one of the Nicolai grandchildren, and I would just like to thank everyone for their support and prayers at this time. It's been a difficult few days, but it's comforting to know that they were loved by so many. So, thank you. "

Cindyloo wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:18 PM:

" Wasn't it their son who was married to the woman who was beaten by her estranged husband?

I was saddened to hear about this. "

Online Editor wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:14 PM:

" To curious: Yes. "

mnmn wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:38 PM:

" Growing up, I belonged to another Lutheran congregation in town, but I remember Pastor Nik very well. He always had the warmest, most welcoming smile and booming voice for all of us whenever the "Luther League" had any activities at First Lutheran.

Heaven has gained a pair of angels with very bright halos... Our thoughts and prayers will be with the family members and congregation during this time. "

curious wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:20 PM:

" Editor: I am wondering if this is the same couple whose daughter was beaten by her estranged husband a year or so ago? I think it happened in Wisconsin, but am not sure. "

LJK wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:50 AM:

" Growing up at Trinity, I've known the Nicolais my entire life. They were both a wonderful influence and established a core set of values for several generations of sunday school and confirmation students. I saw Pastor Nick (as so many people called him) and Lorraine on a trip home not long ago, and so glad I had that chance. When the news came yesterday about the accident it was such a shock and processing it will be difficult for some time to come. God bless the Nicolai family, you're in a lot of prayers. "

GL wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:22 AM:

" A wonderful couple, a Wonderful man. My grandmother always spoke highly of pastor Nik... She will be glad to see him in heaven.. They will have much to talk about. "

Hog Man wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:55 AM:

" Coming from a family with close ties to the Bishop's office, I was shocked and saddened to learn of this huge loss. Much like Bishop Lynne, "Nick" touched lives in a positive manner everywhere he went, and was loved by all. It's a real accomplishment to spend 84 years on this rock and leave with no enemies. He and Lorraine will be sorely missed by many. I'm grateful to have known them. "

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