Jeanette C. Nigg

Jeanette C. Nigg, 86, died of causes incident to her age Thursday, October 25, 2007, at the Aspen Gardens Retirement Home in Helena. She was born Oct. 18, 1921, in McPherson County, Kan., to John Walter and Gertrude (Severtson) Coons, their only child to survive to adulthood. She grew up in Canton, Kan., graduating as Valedictorian of her high school class in 1939. She then attended Kansas State University and the University of Kansas, graduating from the latter institution with a Bachelor's degree in Bacteriology, a field in which she worked during the last year of World War II and shortly thereafter. She was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority at the University of Kansas. She was also a member of the PEO Sisterhood, Eastern Star, and the Episcopal Church. On June 10, 1944, she married Donald J. Nigg, of Whitewater Kan., in Cambridge Mass., beginning a companionship through the ups and downs of life that endured for 63 years. After the end of World War II she and Donald returned to Kansas, residing in Prairie Village for over 50 years until relocating to Helena to be closer to their immediate family. She was an avid musician and patron of the arts during her life. She was an accomplished contralto vocalist, performing on occasion at weddings and other events. She was an active member and officer of the Kansas City Symphony Society for many years and was once offered a position with the New York Philharmonic. Beginning in 1960, and continuing until recently, she also actively and successfully managed an extensive family farm operation that was originally established in the late 1800s by her maternal grandparents of Norwegian ancestry, Gustav and Matilda (Nelson) Severtson, and her paternal grandparents, Henry and Frances (Riley) Coons, all of them early settlers in Kansas. Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents and two infant brothers. She is survived by her husband and their two children, David W. Nigg, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Nancy N. Rude, of Helena. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Eric, Jason, and Jared Nigg, of Idaho Falls, and Caylin and Paul York, of Helena. Family burial services at Forestvale Cemetery in Helena under the direction of Retz Funeral Home are planned for Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. The family especially wishes to gratefully acknowledge the kindness and attention that Jeanette received from the operators and staff of Aspen Gardens during her final days. Memorials are suggested to any charitable artistic, educational or medical organization of the donor's choice.