Ruth Nichols

Ruth Nichols, , 89, of Sidney died Oct. 14, 2020, at Eastern Montana Veterans Home in Glendive.

She was born Jan. 5, 1931, to Hugo and Mary (Nollmeyer) Klempel on their farm near Lambert, the fifth of six siblings. As a child, she helped herd 2,000 head of sheep during the summer. The family only spoke German at home, so she had to learn English when she started school.

After graduating from Lambert High School in 1950, she went to St. Paul Bible College for the fall semesters. She stayed home to work on the farm during the rest of the year since her father had died when she was 15. During the next 10 years, she attended several colleges off and on. In 1960, she graduated from Seattle Pacific College with a bachelor’s degree in music education. She taught band for several years and directed a church choir. She also taught school in South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana.

In 1965, she married Gilbert Lepel and they lived in Sandpoint, Idaho. To this brief marriage was born one son, Bert. She was a very devoted mother. While raising her son, she also took care of her aging mother until 1978. She lived various places in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, Washington, South Carolina and Florida.

She experienced many hard times but she had amazing family support and her faith in God was strong. Ruth wanted her son to attend a Christian school, so she started one in her basement in 1975. She taught several students there for a year and then asked Bible Baptist Church to take on the school and they agreed. Liberty Christian School is still in operation to this day.

In 1980, she graduated from Eastern Washington University with a master’s degree in guidance counseling. She worked as a counselor at Pensacola Christian College in Florida and then later at Culbertson School.

After retiring, she became a “snowbird” and spent winters in Arizona where two of her siblings lived. She enjoyed taking oil painting classes with her sister.

In April 2004, she married Bob Kelly who died on their honeymoon a week later. Then, in September 2005, she married Richard “Rick” Nichols. At the family’s request, he got a checkup to make sure he was healthy and he passed with flying colors. He was diagnosed with cancer shortly after they married and he died a year later.

She is survived by her son, Bert Lepel; and one granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by her husbands; siblings, Walter Klempel, Elsie Klempel, Gus Klempel, Alice Clyde and David Klempel; and a grandson, Matthew Lepel.

A graveside service was held at the Klempel Family Cemetery on Oct. 17 with Pastor Mike Backhaus officiating.