Rick Nichols

Rick Nichols of Stevensville passed away last Saturday, June 14, 2014, due to complications of lung cancer and the onset of pneumonia.

He was born Aug. 7, 1954, in Woodburn, Oregon. After several childhood moves throughout Washington and Montana, he found a home with Rex and Cleo Seiller in Missoula where he lived until his marriage. He attended DeSmet Grade School and Hellgate High School. Rick enlisted in the U.S. Army, but received a medical discharge due to a broken back from a truck accident.

Rick was introduced to the world of trucks through his association with the Tripp family and thus began his life's work with trucks. He drove many logging and over-the-road trucks until he was able to purchase his own truck at the age of 20. With every trade or purchase of different equipment, he worked his way up to a brand new truck and trailer within a few years. In 1985, he co-founded Sea-Nic Transport Inc., where he became dispatcher for 18 years. His last venture was Baxter Trucking LLC, where he was able to return to the highway away from a desk and phone.

Running Sea-Nic Transport enabled Rick to be at home with his young family. He had married Elarian Tibbetts from Terry on Sept. 10, 1977. Five years later, he became daddy to a little girl, Julia, and two years later to a son, Jess. Rick loved being daddy to his kids. There were many good times with the kids during T-ball, basketball, soccer, football, horses and all those late-night dinners after some horse function. Family holidays in Eastern Montana were always a treat, with the brothers-in-law always trying to get him to pull a bull rack of which he wanted no part.

Rick took great pride in the several homes between Florence, Missoula and Stevensville. He did all the yard work, landscaping and gardening. Their home on Third Street in Missoula was indeed a showpiece of his skills. He also loved to barbecue – even got the eastern Montana family to liking barbecued food, especially at Christmastime. Animals, especially Corgi dogs, found a welcome home with Rick.

Rick was truly a good man at heart. He helped so many people along the way – many of whom he shouldn't as he usually took the hit. Rick was always willing to give a guy a chance, especially the younger truck drivers. He never harbored a grudge or ill will toward anyone.

Rick leaves a wife Elarian; a daughter Julia; a son Jess; his mother Cleo Lee; two brothers-in-law, Steve (Sue) Tibbetts and Ron (June) Tibbetts, along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his dad Rex Seiller; his father-in-law and mother-in-law Roland and Mary Tibbetts; and a brother-in-law Wes Tibbetts.

Memorial services with military honors for Rick will be held Wednesday, June 25, at 4 p.m. at Garden City Funeral Home in Missoula. Cremation has taken place and will be a private inurnment at a later date. Memorials can be made to Tough Enough to Wear Pink Montana, P.O. Box 18085, Missoula, MT 59808
Read Rick Nichols's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.