Service Schedule

Service
Memorial services for Rev. Nicolaus will be at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at St. John's Evangelical Church in Edgar, WI.

You can view the service on the churches website at www.stjbeth.org

Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Sidney, MT is caring for the family.

Mark Joel Nicolaus
March 7, 1944 - April 28, 2022

Place of Birth: Sheboygan, WI
Residence: Sidney, MT
Age: 78

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Mark Joel Nicolaus was born in Sheboygan, WI on March 7, 1944, the son of Gordon and Ruth Nicolaus. He was baptized, attended parochial school, and confirmed his faith at St. John Lutheran Church and school in Plymouth, Wisconsin.

Mark attended high school and junior college at Concordia Milwaukee. He then went to Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Indiana where he graduated in 1966. He studied at Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois, and served his vicarage at Grace Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduating in 1970. Mark was ordained at his home congregation on June 28, 1970, followed by installation at his first call to St. John (Kamsack, Stornoway, and Saskatchewan) Canada. He later earned his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Ignatius University in April 2005.

Mark married Jane Fay Finke on July 9, 1966, in Plymouth, Wisconsin, they were blessed with three children. Over the years, Mark faithfully served many parishes.
• St. John Edgar, WI, and Bethlehem, Milan, WI (1973 -1980)
• Peace Lutheran Church, Great Falls, MT (1980-1987)
• Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lincoln, NE (1987-1984)
• Faith Of Our Fathers Lutheran Mission/Church, Roca, NE (1995-1998)
• Peace Lutheran Church, Ronan, MT (1998-2009)
• Missionary-at-Large to Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Mission, Thompson Falls, MT (2010-2012)
• Serving vacancies for Trinity Lutheran Church Sidney, MT, St. John Lutheran Church, Fairview, MT, and Concordia Lutheran Church, Williston, ND (2012 – Present)
Along with serving the Lord in ministry, Mark also authored many books including Horsehide Devotions, Horse Tales, and the children’s series of Puppity Pup books.

On April 27/28, 2022, at the age of 78, the Lord of Life and Victor over death called Mark to his heavenly home.
He was preceded in death by his parents Gordon and Ruth Nicolaus, his spouse Jane Nicolaus (Finke), and his brother Duane (Nick) Nicolaus.

He is survived by his children; Leah Snyder (Jeff) of Belgrade, MT, Micah Nicolaus (Kim) of Cleveland, TN, and Sarah Petrik (Mike) of Sidney, MT. Six grandchildren; Nathan Rokes, Miranda Mushrush (Haden), Skylar Petrik (Elli), Ethan Petrik, Andrew Nicolaus, and Thomas Nicolaus, and 2 great-grandchildren Mia Mushrush and Harper Petrik.

Memorial Contribution

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Sunrise Women's Clinic.

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Judy Sommerfeld (Williston , ND)
May 2, 2022

What a wonderful man! I worked as his secretary at Concordia, he was such a joy to work with. His office was always opened to anyone, always had some special treats for the young. He will be missed. My sympathy is with all. God’s blessings to all.

Jessica Dockweiler (Sidney, MT)
May 2, 2022

Mark will be missed by all. He was a man of many stories and I enjoyed our talks. I know he is at peace now and with his beautiful wife. May they Rest In Peace.

Dennis Martin (Great Falls, MT)
May 2, 2022

Micah, Leah, & Sarah my heart breaks for you and your families. Mark had such a huge impact on my life and many, many others and I was blessed to know him. Words can only do so much to help the healing, especially with the losses you have endured these last few months but my thoughts and prayers are with you in this challenging time.

Ginny Morey (Williston, ND)
May 3, 2022

So sorry for your loss. Mark was a wonderful man and pastor. He will be missed. Rest in peace.

Deb Aldridge (Cleveland, Tennessee)
May 3, 2022

I never knew Rev. Nicolaus but I am blessed to call his son Micah my pastor. I know he was a Godly man because his son is a Godly man and I am sure he learned many lessons from both his mother and his father. Micah, you continue to be in my prayers. All of Broad Street United Methodist Church loves you and we are praying for you during this difficult time. Kim, Andrew and Thomas are also in our hears and prayers. May you feel God's loving arms holding you and your sister tightly. God bless you.

Eric Bollinger (Williston, ND)
May 4, 2022

I was blessed to have gotten to know Rev. Nicolaus from his time in Williston. He was definitely a ray of sunshine to my family and many, many others. He will be deeply missed and prayers to the family for their loss. Will never forget the positive impact he had on my life. We will continue to find joy from him whenever reading one of his books.

Jack and Dawna Widmar (Shelby, Montana)
May 4, 2022

We have been blessed to have the Nicolaus family as part of our lives for well over 30 years, not only as members of more than one congregation, but also as friends. Mark was unashamedly strong and bold in his beliefs and opinions and occasionally stepped on toes, too bad more people aren't this way. His Bible studies were the best most informative in depth studies we have ever had. He and Jane were a great team and we love them both and while we rejoice in their being at home in Heaven, we will miss them terribly.

Tami Maltese
May 4, 2022

My thoughts and prayers are with your family. I know it is difficult to lose a loved family member. I will miss our discussions and I am honored to have an autographed puppity pup book. Now it is my turn to say “May God Bless You Reverend Mark.”

DIANE AND RAY MARTEN (RONAN, MT)
May 6, 2022

We loved pastor. Allen my son finally got it and thanks To the Pastor it took him until he was 46 years old. He now has parkinsons, and is so glad that he has Jesus in his life. So sorry for the family of Pastor, I know it is tough on them having lost him ahd their mother so soon and close together.

Angela Fletcher (Great Falls, MT)
May 6, 2022

Leah, Micah, and Sarah, my deepest sympathies on your loss.

I have been so lucky to have Pastor Mark in my life from confirmation with his M&Ms to the day he came back to Great Falls to help Pastor Eckelman at my wedding. Those are some of the things I treasure the most in my younger years. Later in life when he would return to Great Falls for Pastoral conventions and me, my family, and my parents would sit around the table and reconnect whenever we could.

I am so happy that you are now reunited w Jane and can enjoy the company of our Lord and Savior forevermore. Save a seat at your table for me when we are able to reconnect once again in Heaven.

Micah
May 11, 2022

Dad's Ordination Picture

My dad was a special man. He was one part the greatest athlete I ever knew, one part the boldest evangelist for Jesus Christ, he was one part John Wayne, and when you mix these all together you get my dad.

He worked so hard throughout his years. He taught us all that you get nothing for free, and that with Jesus as your Lord and a good work ethic you can do great things. He was generous beyond measure – even when it cost him more than he could afford. We never had much, yet we had anything we could ever need. He was dogmatically loyal – to the Lord, Mom, his kids, his extended family, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, his horses, the Packers, the Brewers, and the Bucks, in that order.

My favorite memories of childhood are; leaving Edgar at the crack of dawn to drive to Milwaukee for a Brewers Day game, playing catch with him before a Frankfort Cheese Factory game in Milan, going golfing at Crystal Lake with him and Grandpa Finke, when he picked us up after school on a snowy day in Great Falls, Twinkies, M&Ms (Mystery and Miracles), camping anywhere when it was just us, and most of all those times he showed me unbridled grace in moments I’d just as soon not remember.

Dad was known for his one liners; Here are my favorites:
-Sempre ube sub ube
-What do you call a pediatrician and a surgeon? A Paradox
-Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before the fall (Prov 16:18)
-You have Champagne taste on a beer budget
-Put the best construction on everything (Luther)
-What was the first sport – baseball – In the Big Inning (Gen 1:1)

He was principled, rigged, uncompromising, a truth teller, strict, fun, goofy, kind, soft, and welcoming, talk about a paradox. His life’s passion was that all might know the love of Jesus. Some people say it, but he lived it. He took the way God created him and used it as best he could for the glory of God. I know if he were here today, his only desire would be for you to know that God loves you.

Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Well done dad. You have proclaimed the Good News. Your feet are beautiful on Mount Zion. Share in Your Father’s glory for Our God Reigns.

Finally, Jesus said that the Fathers Mansion has rooms prepared for each of us. I can only imagine what dad’s must be like. The best and most comfortable saddles, a table where he can spread out the coins he finds in the change returns of the heavenly vending machines, a television playing a program that is turned up so loud you have to sit in the hallway to enjoy it, and I have to believe there is a glove waiting there also. I will be there one day… and I know I’ll have a glove in my room. Dad, I can’t wait to play catch again - - Next time in heaven.

I. N. R. I.

Aaron Stinnett (Smithfield, Rhode Island)
May 12, 2022

It was a genuine blessing to have Pastor Nicolaus as my pastor when I was growing up. The Lord blessed him with a real gift for teaching, and much of what he taught in Confirmation Class has stayed with me throughout my life (including a few of the one-liners Micah mentioned). He always had time for the kids at church – including playing football with us on the church lawn – and he was unfailingly kind to me. (And in football and basketball after church, Micah was the quickest guy you could hope to have on your team.) It was from having Pastor Nicolaus as my pastor that I came to appreciate what a pastor can be, and without his influence I’m really not sure I would be serving as a pastor today. Years later, it was a privilege to have him participate in my ordination service, where he offered a blessing using the same verse he had chosen as my Confirmation verse many years earlier: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10b). He has been faithful, and the crown of life is his. Micah, may the Lord be with you and all your family and comfort you with the good news that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life; whoever believes in Him, though they die, yet shall they live (John 11:25).

Deb Aldridge (Cleveland, Tennessee)
May 17, 2022

Jody Cameron (Lincoln, Nebraska)
May 26, 2022

I just learned of Pastor Nicolaus passing and would like to extend my sincere sympathy to the family. Pastor Nicolaus was our pastor in Lincoln for many years and baptized my son. God bless.

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