Leslie "Nick" "Les" Nicholas

Leslie "Nick" "Les" Martin Nicholas, 71, of Fargo passed away on June 16, 2020 in Mayo Clinic St. Mary's Campus, Rochester, MN. Nick was born in Fargo on September 2, 1948 to Alfred and Leota (Murphy) Nicholas. He attended Dilworth schools, graduating from Dilworth High School in 1966. He went on to attend and play football for North Dakota State, being part of their 1968 and 1969 championship teams. While Nick was in high school, he met, and later married, Patty Jo Griffin. They had two daughters and later divorced. In March of 1978, Nick met Muriel (Mernie) Lund and they were married on December 12, 1978. Nick worked first in track maintenance as a foreman then as an inspector for Burlington Northern Railroad. He enjoyed competing - and winning - spike driving and pulling competitions. He was medically retired from the railroad in 2001, although he spent many years volunteering with The Red River Zoo. Soon the grandkids came, and he was busy traveling to many of the functions they had. He spent hours watching them in football, basketball, baseball, band, choir, plays, just to name a few. In recent years, he enjoyed his time at their seasonal lake place near Perham. Nick is survived by his wife, Mernie of Fargo; children: Dawn Nicholas of Mountain Home, Idaho; Randy (Susie) Laurin of Grand Forks, ND; Denise (Darrin) Nicholas-Sandberg of Mountain Home, Idaho; Denyce (Gary) McDonald of West Fargo, ND, Amanda (Aaron) Jones of Hawley, MN, and Leah Nicholas of Grandin, ND; grandchildren, McKenzie (Ruben) Sanchez, Brady Laurin, Whitney Sandberg, Jenna Laurin, Audrey Nicholas-Jones, Braedon McDonald, Nathan McDonald, Landon Nicholas, Avery Jones, Asher Jones, and Jason Sell. Brother, John Nicholas of Mississippi, Sisters, Pat (Morrie) Kelsven of Moorhead, MN, and Sharon Alder of Colstrip, MT. Numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends of Bill W. Nick was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, brothers-in-law, Eugene Alder and David Lund; and grandson, Jaymon McDonald. There will be a funeral service at 2:00 PM on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center, Fargo with a visitation one hour prior.