Nick was born December 14, 1948 in Sidney, MT to Francis and Alyce (Hansen) Jones. Nick spent his life as an active participant in the Sidney community. Beyond his active role as a local businessman, he is remembered for his laughter which accompanied an outgoing personality, love of outdoor sports, and fireside storytelling.
Nick graduated Sidney High School with the class of 1967. From there, he entered college at Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA), where he was honored to have been selected as a member of Choir of the West. His time at PLU was punctuated with many travel opportunities throughout the U.S. as part of the choir. A passion for singing and enjoyment of music remained with him from that time.
In 1970, Nick returned to Montana where he married Randi Logan before completing his studies at the University of Montana. Nick’s alliance to UM and the Grizzly sports programs remained for decades, including his active membership and participation with the Grizzly Scholarship Association.
Nick and Randi welcomed two boys, Justin in 1972 and Patrick in 1975. They raised their family in Sidney. The family enjoyed competition through sports as well as time spent camping, hunting and fishing. These activities remained a constant for Nick, his family and his friends throughout his entire life.
In more recent years, Nick found love and friendship with a high school sweetheart in Barb Connor. Together, the two enojoyed travel and entertaining friends at their home in Sidney. Barb gravitated to fishing poles over shotguns, and the two of them spent many summer days at the cabin on Lake Sakakawea. They were married in Arizona with immediate family and friends last winter.
Nick’s fingerprints on the Sidney Community are wide and varied. At a personal level, he was active as a member of the SHS Sports Booster program, an avid golfer and lifetime member of the Sidney Country Club. He was a 20-year firefighter as part of the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a lifetime member of the (BPOE) Elk’s Organization. Consistent with his passion for hunting and fishing, he was a founding member of Sidney’s Ducks Unlimited chapter. He was a charter member for both Pheasants Forever and Walleyes Unlimited. In 2006, Nick was honored to be named to the State of Montana’s Upper Missouri River Advisory Board.
In his professional life, Nick’s contributions are tangible. He was active in the creation of multiple housing developments, real estate projects and hotel and motel development.
Longtime friends and associates remember Nick as a successful businessman. His professional career started in Billings where he was a salesman for Brown’s sport center (sales). Once his family was underway, he returned to Sidney to work with his grandfather, Nick Hansen. Together, they built a successful business in Valley Meat where Nick was manager. From there, S&H Cattle became his next business venture. And finally, Nick took his interest in business deals into real estate. Nick took a position as agent with Bill Mullen. Following Bill’s passing; Nick passed the MT State Broker’s exam, and promptly opened Nick Jones Real Estate, which remains active to this day.
Nick passed away during a fishing weekend on June 23, 2013.
Surviving Nick are: his wife, Barb Jones, Sidney, MT; Justin (Tammy) Jones, Sidney, MT; Kim (Randy) Amys, Windsor, CO; Kevin (Caren) Connor, Seattle, WA; Brian (Lisa Ballard) Sather, Tiburon, CA; his beloved grandchildren Logan and Lilian Jones, Connor Strauch, Gavin Hagstrom, Sarah and Eli Connor, Ayla and Liam Sather.
Preceding Nick in death was his son, Patrick Jones and parents Alyce and Francis Jones, Sidney, MT.
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