Nicolette “Nicky” Bickler

Minot

Nicolette “Nicky” Bickler, Minot, ND, passed away in her home Monday, June 29, 2026, seven weeks after being diagnosed with glioblastoma.

Nicolette Katherine Bickler was born February 12, 1958, the daughter of Leo and Yvonne (Hilzendager) Schmaltz in Rugby, ND. She was the third of six children. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Minot where she lived until her death.

Nicky was educated at St. Leo’s School and Minot High School, graduating in 1976. She welcomed a daughter, Jessica, in 1977 and married Mark Bickler on July 27, 1991.

She worked in banking from 1979 until 2003 when she transitioned to working in Civil Service at Minot Air Force Base. She worked there in contracting until 2020 when she retired and could finally watch The Price is Right every morning.

Education was very important to Nicky. She pursued her college degree while working and raising her child and finally earned her much-coveted bachelor’s degree from MSU in 1996.

Nicky was a Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys fan. She told everyone about how she used to listen to Twins games on her transistor radio in her bed under the covers as a child. She loved going to baseball and football games. She enjoyed playing Bunko with her friends every month. She traveled to Alaska, Egypt, Belgium and many more places to visit her daughter and grandkids, and never missed a ballet performance. She and Mark spent the last several winters in Mesa, AZ and greatly enjoyed spending time at Sandals resorts around the Caribbean.

Her loving family includes: husband of 34 years, Mark, Minot; daughter, Jessica Vold, Palm Harbor, FL; grandchildren, Lachlan Vold, Fairbanks, AK, Briar Vold, Palm Harbor, FL; sisters, Rosita (Wayne) Schoenberg, West Fargo, Karen (Todd) Nelson, Minot, Ann Mjoen, Faribault, MN; brother, Leo V. Schmaltz, Lubbock, TX; brother-in-law, Gary (Vicki) Bickler, Jacksonville Beach, FL, Kelly (Gail) Bickler, West Fargo; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Philip “Scottie” and Amy Bickler; and infant brother, Leonard.

Liturgy of the Word: Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service.

Memorials: are preferred to a charity of the donor’s choice in Nicky’s name.

The service will be livestreamed for the public to view and can be accessed by going to the Thompson-Larson Funeral home website: www.thompsonlarson.com.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).

Published by The Minot Daily News, July 6, 2026.