Loretta A. Nickel

9/13/1952 — 10/13/2025

Service Date: 11/8/2025
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Loretta Ann Nickel, 73, passed away Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, due to complications from a stroke. Loretta was born Sept 13, 1952, in Livingston, Mont., to H.O. “Jack” and Doris L. (Bigelow) Story, as the youngest of three children.

Loretta spent part of her childhood in Livingston until the family moved to Idaho where her parents operated the first A&W Root Beer stand in Moscow. The family then moved to Lewiston around 1961 where Loretta graduated from Lewiston High School in 1971.

Loretta attended Lewis-Clark State College, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1995 and the University of Idaho earning a master’s degree in 1997. Loretta worked at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Wash., and retired in 2017 from Lewis Clark State College, as director of Student Support Services. Loretta loved working with students and received great joy helping them to succeed.

On Oct. 19, 1971, Loretta married James “Jim” Norman Nickel in Asotin. They spent 45 years together before Jim passed in 2017.

Loretta is survived by her son Robert (Janel) Nickel; brother Jack Story; grandchildren Johnny Nickel, Jeff (Teraysa) Nickel and Carrie Nickel; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her brother Dan Story; her parents H.O. “Jack” and Doris Story, her grandparents Dan and Lora Bigelow of Gardiner, Mont., and her Uncle Bob and Aunt Alice Murphy of Paradise Valley, Mont.

A celebration of Loretta’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1700 Eighth Street, Lewiston. Memorial donations may be made to the LCSC Trio Club Scholarship Fund.