The Rev. Dr. Nicki Doud
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- The Rev. Dr. Nicki Joy Doud, age 60, died on July 5, 2004, in Phoenix, Ariz.
Nicki Joy was born on June 13, 1944, at the Staples Municipal Hospital to Jeannette Rice Pullum and Andrew Pullum. Jeannette married Jesse Frank Doud several years later and Nicki chose to take his name.
Nicki went to the Lincoln School in Brainerd for kindergarten and first grade and it was Millie Olson, her first grade teacher, who inspired her to want to become a teacher. The family moved to Staples when she started second grade and third grade teacher, Ada Roberts, further developed Nicki's desire to be a teacher.
Despite great physical odds Nicki graduated with her class at the age of 16 in 1961 from Staples High School. She moved to California for one year living with her mom's sister and husband, Renee and Marvin Stout. She began college in 1962 at Bemidji State University where she graduated with her bachelor of science in English and German. She taught in the Aitkin Public Schools for 32 years until disabilities forced her early retirement in 1999.
She taught English, German, Novels of the World, Journalism and Basic English with her main emphasis and love being seventh graders in English 7. She advised the Challenger's Bible Club, the student newspaper, Future Teachers of America, served as a P.T.A. officer for several years, and edited the school newsletter when it first started.
Nicki Joy also served many offices in and was an active member of the Aitkin Education Association and was also a member of the Minnesota Education Association, the National Education Association, and served on many leadership teams and committees during her career.
While teaching Nicki Joy studied for seven and a half years by correspondence and extension classes and graduated in 1979 from Baptist Christian College with a bachelor of arts in biblical studies. She then transferred to The International Seminary of Orlando, Fla., where she earned 64 additional credits for her ordination which took place in 1979. She went on to earn a master's degree in theology and was awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree after a life search was done on her active work in Christian ministry from the age of 12 on the Rev. Carl Fuhr and his wife, Mae, were instrumental in Nicki accepting God's call to the ministry which she received when she was 12 shortly after she received Christ as her savior.
In 1967 after Nicki's fiance was killed in Vietnam she was called to the Staples Congregational Church where she served almost a year before having any formal training. She accepted the call to the Kimberly Community Church in 1979 and served there for 25 years.
Nicki Joy was very active in the community serving as charter president of the Riverboat Lion's Club, the Hospital Auxiliary and the Aitkin Ministerial Association which she presided over as president for two two-year terms. Her favorite activity was preaching God's word and doing the services at the nursing facilities. For 10 years she crafted until her sister Jan died after the 1999 craft show at Ruttger's. Then she quit crafting and turned her attention fully to ministering.
In 2002 Nicki Joy and Pamela Janell Holmgren "PJ" of Arizona, formed Spirit and Life Ministries and did retreats and workshops together. Pamela was the minister of music and assisted in all aspects of the ministry.
Nicki Joy was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, all aunts and uncles, sister Janice, and brothers Jeff and Leonard. She is survived by nephew Michael Roger Klaphake, the son she never had; brothers Guy Rice Doud and Patrick Michael Doud and Herman Pullum; sisters Francis, Eunice and Marilyn; many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of Christian friends.
Services for Pastor Nicki Joy will be held at First Lutheran Church, Aitkin, on Tuesday, July 13, 2004, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be Monday, 4-7 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home, Aitkin. Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home and burial will be in Spencer Cemetery.