Nicholas D. Ferguson, 90, of Libby, MT passed away Monday, August 19, 2019 of natural causes at his home in Libby.
He was born January 27, 1929 in a country farm home two miles north of Oregon, MO, the third surviving child of John and Ina (Field) Ferguson. A couple years later his brother, Jerry, joined the family and they grew up in a two story home with a wood burning stove in the front room.
Nick walked one mile to the old country grade school, sometimes clamping on ice skates and skating across the fields to school. Following high school, Nick joined the United States Air Force on January 6, 1951. It was during his service that he met the love of his life, Sumiko Imanishi. Nick and Sumi were married on September 6, 1952 in Tokyo, Japan.
Together, with their son, Johnnie, they boarded a ship in 1954, heading to Oregon, Missouri. Two beautiful daughters, Marilyn and Nancy, were born while in MO. Nick received his Honorable Discharge from the Air Force in November of 1954 and went right to work for the Air National Guard. He served with the Air National Guard until his retirement in 1984 and they immediately retired to Libby, a place that had been a favorite vacation spot for them. Nick had an extraordinary appreciation for the mountains and their surroundings.
He enjoyed picking huckleberries with Sumi and scouting for the morel mushrooms. He loved to lie back in the grass on the mountainside and comment on all the nice smells of the mountain air and the beauty he could see. God’s creation kept him looking for the next thing of beauty that he could enjoy and point out to his friends.
Nick spent many hours with Sumi at Libby Christian Church where they both made such a difference in the lives of so many people. After losing Sumi in 2013, you could often still find Nick, at the church volunteering to set up for dinners; helping build or improve a new structure; or traveling to visit people in the hospital. Nick’s welcoming handshake to all who walked in the church doors will be missed.
Nick was preceded in death by his wife, Sumi; his parents; and 4 siblings. Survivors include his son Johnnie (JoAnn) of Tonganoxie, KS; daughters Marilyn (Gary) Collingwood of Greybull, WY and Nancy (Mike) Mazur of St. Joseph, MO; brother, Jerry Ferguson of Gladstone, MO; 8 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; many nieces and nephews; and his church family, who loved him dearly.
Services for Nick were held 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 26, 2019, at Libby Christian Church. A later service will be held in Missouri with burial at the Benton Cemetery in Oregon, Missouri. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.