John Briggs Nicolson, age 67, passed away on October 9th, 2022, after a long illness. The youngest of three children, he was born in Billings on June 18th, 1955, to Elizabeth “Libbie” and John “Jack” Nicolson.
From an early age, John was a talented tennis player; as a teenager he was Montana AA doubles champion. He also loved woodworking. He learned the basics from his father, Jack, himself a skilled carpenter. One of his first design projects, around the age of 10, was a medieval pillory. He asked sister Mary to try it out, then promptly locked the device and left her in public view; it was a sturdy construction, but Mary was not amused!
After graduating from Billings Senior High, John enrolled at Oregon State University. When the Forestry/Botany program he entered turned out to be more about chopping down trees than learning how they grow, John returned to Montana to attend MSU in Bozeman. There he completed a degree in Industrial Arts and Technology Education.
In 1975, John married his high school sweetheart, Rebecca Yapuncich. Although they later divorced, John never forgot her and her large, fun-loving, tennis-playing family, who had warmly welcomed him into their clan.
In 1978, John established Gallatin Fine Joinery in Belgrade, where he specialized in making custom wood furniture. The noted British designer Alan Peters inspired John’s early work, which was featured in the prestigious professional magazine “Fine Woodworking”. Using mainly hand tools, he built several beautiful musical instruments, including a harpsichord, mandolin, guitars, and hammer dulcimers. Apart from extra certifications and several years’ experience as a broker, John remained a woodworker at heart. In addition to work for building contractors in the wider Bozeman area, both remodeling and new construction, John completed many of his own design projects, including an energy-sustainable greenhouse made of hay bales. When times were tough John worked as a hotel maintenance technician and a house painter, jokingly reflecting that he was the only crew member with a college degree.
John was a talented musician and loved music. After studying classical guitar, he taught himself piano. In high school, he played lead guitar in a band that had gigs in Billings and surrounding towns. John’s professional technical drawing skills later formed the basis for a large series of beautiful abstract artworks. A lifelong dog owner, his successive pointers Chopper, Charger, Chaser, and Chuck were soulmates, together enjoying the beautiful Gallatin river and lands around John’s Belgrade home. John was also an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction literature, with a collection of over 1000 books.
Over the years, John built a broad network of friends and colleagues in the Bozeman area. He will be remembered by them and his family as creative, witty, charismatic, eccentric, a great writer and storyteller. He amused his nephews and niece, among others, with tricks like the removable thumb and the cracking nose. Although we all tried, John was the only family member who truly mastered these skills.
Above all, John was a caring and generous person, always willing to help others in need. During his last months and in spite of his declining health, John remained positive and open, making new friends along the way. John has mentioned his two proudest accomplishments: firstly, caring for his mother Libbie throughout her terminal illness, and, secondly, winning his long-term battle with alcoholism. Both of these required courage, dedication, and compassion. Special thanks to those who supported him during these difficult times.
John much appreciated the care and comfort he received from the staff of Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, Continental Care and Rehabilitation Center (Butte), and associated hospice caregivers and volunteers. To them our heartfelt thanks.
John will be lovingly remembered by his sisters Mary Nicolson (Baker City, Oregon) and Nancy Nicolson (Maastricht, the Netherlands), brother-in-law Marten de Vries, nephews Willem and Christopher, niece Lara, their partners and children, and dear friends.
In memory of John, donations may be made to Bozeman’s Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter, via their website https://www.heartofthevalleyshelter.org/ways-to-give/.
Axelson Funeral & Cremation Services has been privileged to care for John and his family. A memorial service will be planned at a later date.
Visit below to leave a condolence or share a memory of John.
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Fred Yapuncich says
John was so kind to me as I grew up and I was in awe of his talents. I tagged along on tennis trips and hung out when I attended MSU. I remember him cooking up pork chops and mushroom soup then listening to John play guitar like Leo Kottke. He was part of our family.
steve yapuncich says
Mary and Nancy I enjoyed competing with John on the tennis courts in pioneer park. He was great player and a good guy. RIP, John. Condolences to all of you ❤️.
Monte Cooper says
I drove by John’s old house today. It and all of the outbuildings are bright red with white trim. I think that he lived there for 40 years. He loved that place, situated next to the West Gallatin river. In that 40 years, that home changed from a truly country home to the edge of suburbia. If walls could talk, that place would have some tales to tell!
Faithful friend that he is, John would notify me when morel mushrooms were popping up and invite me to hunt them. He would get a charge
out of seeing me collect dozens of morels, oyster, and giant puffball mushrooms…. sometimes literally buckets of them.
John had a broad and deep taste in music. His collection included the likes of Segovia, Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks, Leo Kottke, Junior Walker, John Mayall, and of course Hendrix and the Stones. We were able to see Segovia, Bob Dylan, and John Mayall at concerts here in
Bozeman.
John was truly an eccentric, with an outrageous sense of humor. He was generous, creative, fun loving took great pride in his work.
I will miss him. Monte Cooper
kirk leclaire says
John was year older than me, more informed and way way cooler, we rode the same bus to Jr high. He was regularly seen with an armload of lp’s to share with his cohort of likewise cooler friends. One day had shared with his friends a hand made pamphlet he’d made ( really a few xeroxed pages stapled together) entitled “The finger picking style of Mississippi John Hurt”…his detailed exploration of this obscure blues practitioners guitar style. What kind of 9th grader does this? John of course. And who can forget his rendition of The Star Spangled Banner at YMCA with his band Fresh Air. Not me.
Presently I am a part of Lost Sounds Montana, a group dedicated to preserving music made in and by Montanans, if Johns legacy includes the above booklet or any recorded examples of his music we would love to hear those. I did spend an evening in Billings 20 years ago or so with him and I believe he mentioned he had recorded himself. This may be an opportunity to preserve these sounds. Respectfully Kirk LeClaire.
Larry Lechner says
John had an awesome number of talents that were mind boggling for one person to have. I enjoyed sharing his life and his infectious laughter will never be forgotten. I loved playing tennis with you, getting our Ind. Art degree together and enjoying your paradise on the West Gallatin.
One story that I think you will enjoy. John had a mini woodshop in his student housing Apt. where he designed and constructed a harpsichord, and it worked quite well.
John, I love you man.
Rest in peace.
My condolences to Mary and Nancy
Lisa Prugh says
I have a beautiful front door and entry thanks to John’s expert, artistic, and professional woodworking. I think they(my architect husband & John) met on the tennis court but soon they shared their professions together, and John built a most elegant timeless and welcoming entryway for our home in 1985. I do I not enter my home w/o thanking and remembering his subtle humor, quiet focus, and general all around good nature. He was quirky, kind, thoughtful, and cheery! I am grateful for his talents and also his friendship.
Robert Law says
I had some of the wildest and most fun days of my life with John playing tennis during the summer months of high school. Although he was a much better tennis player than me we played doubles together. Missed those times with John, Rebecca and Andrea. Wish i would have stayed in touch later; i always admired John