William "Bill" Fredrick Nichols

William Fredrick “Bill” Nichols, Passed away peacefully on May 2nd, he was 82.

Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, July 11, 2025 at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Bill was born in Bemidji and attended BSU lab school and BHS.  He followed his dream and went to Flight school in Oklahoma after graduation, going on to earn his Commercial Pilot’s license.  Bill worked as a Fight instructor and accepted a job with Sellers Petroleum as a corporate Pilot.  Bill flew several notable people, one of his favorites was the Baseball player Micky Mantle.

Bill and his high school sweetheart Grace Elizabeth (Liz) Johnson, were married in Bemidji on October 28th 1961, and she joined him in OK.  Their Daughter was born in 1963, and they moved back to MN in 1966 so he could work with his Father Bill Sr. managing The Hamm’s Beer Distributorship.  Bill worked with Wintersteen Trucking from 1974 until his retirement in 2017.

Bill was active in the Bemidji Jaycees and many community activities.  Bill was also a member of the Eagles.  Among Bill’s many activities, he loved to curl, bowl, golf and snowmobile.

Bill will be remembered for his warm nature and smile. He will be dearly missed by so many people.  Bill is survived by his Wife Grace Elizabeth (Liz) Nichols – Bemidji and a daughter Kimberlee and Son-in-law Scot Stein – Austin, TX.

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