Nicodemus "Nick" J. Woods

Nicodemus “Nick” John Woods, 80 of Fort Totten ND and Sisseton SD passed away on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Eventide Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake.

A Wake for Nick will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Dakota Baptist Church, Fort Totten beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a time of prayer and remembrance at 7:00 p.m. The procession to Fort Totten will leave on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. from the City Plaza, Devils Lake.

Funeral Services will be on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Dakota Baptist Church with Pastor Paul Young officiating. Burial will be in St. Jerome’s Cemetery.

Nicodemus John Woods was born on January 2, 1943, at Veblen, South Dakota, the son of Jacob J. and Virginia L. (Robertson) Woods. Nick’s father was killed while serving his country during World War II when Nick was only 2 years old.  He and his sister Diane attended boarding schools in South Dakota and North Dakota. Nick graduated from Flandreau Indian School. He continued his education at the Sisseton-Wahpeton College and graduated with an Associates Degree in Business. Nick often had to teach the mathematics class as the teacher didn’t show up. Nick was a talented athlete and broke the fastest runner record set by Frank Koy at Sisseton. He loved to swim and swam across Buffalo Lake, one of many ways he challenged himself. He excelled scholastically too, maintaining very high GPA’s.

Nick met Betty Owen and they were the proud parents of Rebecca and Nicolette.

Nick’s talents were many. He was a jack-of-all trades. He did road construction, was a carpenter, great self-taught mechanic, loved to work on cars and helped area farmers. He was very artistic. He is known for playing guitar, sang (many times sang with his mother and Lily at funerals and wakes), was a talented artist and painter. Nick was proud of his heritage and the traditional ways.

Nick was a free spirit. He travelled throughout the country, making many trips to California and Arizona. He went back and forth between Sisseton and Fort Totten many times, but called Fort Totten his forever home, wanting to be close to his sister Diane.

This dear, kindhearted, gentle, loving, special man was a friend to many, doing whatever he could to help those in need and feeling so blessed to have such good friends and family to help him in his time of need. He will be greatly missed and forever loved by all whose path he crossed. Out of love, he called many people in his life his family.

Nick’s loving family include his daughters Beckie Lynn Herald (Marlin), Nicolette Jean Knudson, and Lauren Estelle Owen; son Vincent Owen; adopted daughter Doveta Cavanaugh (Dane); his “sisters” Lily Renville and Yvonne Bear; grandchildren Daisy Lynn and Mason Scott Herald: Taigann Nicole Knudson: Cole Heath, Christina Estelle, and Connor Jon German: Dallas Chandler, Kennedy Christian, Sterling David, Slade Vincent, and Zane William Owen; many precious nieces, nephews, and their families.

He is joined in the Spirit World with Creator, his parents Jacob Woods and Virginia Woods Eastman, stepfather Raymond Eastman, sister Diane Woods in 2007, nephews Troy Woods and Mark Fassett, grandchild Chasity German and other beloved relatives.

Pallbearers will be Duane Littlewind, Kolby McKay, Calen Fassett, Donovan Robertson, Steffen Greywater and Cody Fassett. Honorary Bearers are Barbara Robertson, Devonne Robertson, Debra DuMarce, Alfred “Lemon” Longie, Brenda Robertson, Scott DuMarce, Rhonda Greywater, Willis Herald, Tracy WhiteBuffalo, Harold Amos, Charles Greeley, Bertha Greeley, Tammi DuMarce, Lorraine Rousseau, Christine Hopkins, Jesse Cavanaugh, Stacy DuBois, Brenda DuMarce, Catherine Howard, Ephraim Red Earth, Beverly Greeley, Helena LaBatte, Darlene Myhre, Curtis Posey, all his “buddies” from the Elderly Housing. Nick was a friend to many and if we missed anyone, it was not intentional. He loved you all.