Charlene Nickels

Charlene D. Nickels, 84, (formerly of Billings) passed away peacefully on March 29 from cancer.A funeral liturgy will be held on Monday, April 2, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ann's Cathedral with internment to follow at Highland Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Charlene was born in Havre, Montana, in 1928 to Lloyd and Julia Eggleston. She and her brother Bill grew up fishing, catching frogs, and running with their pack of cousins. She was the first girl to wear jeans in her school and was frequently sent home for unladylike behavior. On May 27, 1950, she married John F. Nickels. They moved to Denver, CO, while he completed his degree in accounting. Charlene loved the big city life. On April 20, 1954, they were blessed with their daughter Mary Julene. Charlene poured her love and life into her family. They moved to Billings to raise Mary with family and friends. Charlene was an incredible seamstress who was able to recreate designs from fashion magazines for herself and daughter. There wasn't a jigsaw puzzle she couldn't solve and she read a librarys worth of books. She loved horse racing and hockey. Her laughter and screams of Go Baby Go ring in our hearts. She is survived by her daughter Mary Lehman and son-in-law Jerry; granddaughters Jolene Bach and Marisa Davey; grandsons Andrew Thompson and Jason Lehman; and great-grandchildren, Tate, Meguire, Anthony, Tristan, Jasmine and Saige. In Heaven she will reunite with her husband John; her parents; and brother, William. Memorials are suggested to the Great Falls "public" Library Foundation, PO Box 742, Great Falls, 59403 or the Poor Clares of Montana, 3020 18th Ave. So., Great Falls, 59405.Condolences may be left for the family at www.schniderfuneralhome.com.