Raymond F. Nicklay

Raymond Nicklay, legendary television and radio newsman, passed away Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, at St. Patrick Hospital.

Best known locally for the morning show he shared with Curt "Fat Dad" Gerke throughout the '70s, '80s and into the '90s, "Ray Nicklay the Newsguy" earned a reputation for his integrity, his work ethic, his tireless commitment to the community, and, of course, his sense of humor.

He was born May 5, 1930, to Frank and Blanche Nicklay in Barnesville, Minnesota. He grew up on the family farm as an only child.

In 1949, Ray proudly enlisted in the Navy and received an honorable discharge in 1952. He attended the University of Minnesota and then transferred to the Brown Institute of Broadcasting, where he earned the certification that would set the course for the rest of his life. He moved to Glendive in 1954 to work as a DJ at KXGN radio, where he was known as "Nifty Nick, the one-eyed Spanish Rat" – a name given him by a friend in the Navy. It was there that he met Marian "Cary" Meissner, the high school intern who would become his wife. Ray and Cary were married Feb. 7, 1959, and embarked on a series of job-related moves that included stints in Rapid City, South Dakota, and Fargo, North Dakota, before finally returning to Montana and settling in Missoula, where Ray took the position of program director at KGVO TV.

In 1970, both Ray and Cary moved to KYLT Radio, where Ray was news director and Cary the national sales manager. Ray retired from broadcasting in 1993. He joined the Missoula County Deputy Sheriffs Association as a bailiff in the district courts. He loved this work because it afforded him the opportunity to stay active and maintain connections to those with whom he had formed personal and professional relationships throughout his broadcasting career. He continued in this capacity until health issues forced him to retire in 2014.

Ray was a charter member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Missoula, Crimestoppers, Missoula Westside Lions Club and was actively involved in the creation of the Montana Korean War Memorial. He was the vision chairman of the Southside Lions until his death.

Ray was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law Arcadia and grandson Andris.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Cary; five sons, Robert, Patrick (Kesh), Kelly (Charlotte Knutsen) of Missoula, Daniel of Coeur d'Alene, and Mark of Fort Collins, Colorado; two daughters, Becky Mosbacher (Tim) of Missoula and Christine Nicklay (Tessa Heuermann) of Butte; 25 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Garden City Funeral Home on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from noon to 5 p.m. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Church on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 10:30 a.m. followed by interment at the Western Montana Veterans Cemetery, and then a reception at Garden City Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Missoula Southside Lions Vision Program, 730 Longstaff, or Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Missoula, 1520 S. Russell.
Read Raymond Nicklay's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.