Nicci Henke
Obituaries used to be the simple announcement of the death of someone. Lately some have become newspaper page eating tomes that chronicle just about everything in the deceased life. Nicci’s family or who ever wrote this one struck just about the right tone.
Nicole Rowene “Nicci” Henke, 70 of Devils Lake, ND passed away at her home in the loving care of family and Hospice, on Wednesday morning, March 13, 2013.
A Memorial Service for Nicci was held on Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Rev. Timothy Stout officiating.
Nicole Rowene Henke was born at a birthing center in Mandan, ND on August 10, 1942. She grew up in Center, ND, the daughter of Oliver and Enid ‘nee (Henderscheid) Gullickson. While growing up she loved her farm life and spent as much time as she could on her grandparents’, aunts’, uncles’ and cousins’ farms. She and her cousins spent many hours riding horse-back and playing with the farm animals.
Nicole graduated from Center High School and attended North Dakota State University in Fargo for three years. She graduated from Minot State University with a degree in education, with special emphasis on education of the deaf.
Nicole married Merle Henke in 1963 and they moved from Rugby to Devils Lake where she worked for the North Dakota School for the Deaf for 32 years, retiring in 1997. She then worked part-time for Lake Region Special Education as a consultant to the hearing impaired and also did substitute teaching during that time. She ended that job in 2004 and she and Merle traveled to several places within the United States. In 2006, she was diagnosed with cancer and their lived changed to center around medical concerns.
Nicole was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and the LWML, serving as an officer locally and as a district officer. She also was a member of the North Dakota Retired Teachers Organization.
We are about partnerships here on this site and one of the things about partnerships is that you need to find a good partner. I worked with Nicci and the Lutheran Womens Missionary League for a long time and she was the quintessence of a good partner. Always solicitous and gracious, caring and endlessly patient, she exhibited to me at least, the qualities that Paul tells the Phillipians to think about – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” She would never describe herself that way I am sure. She recognized her sin and her Savior and always relied on the illimitable grace of God. She will be missed.
