Nicholas Charles Jacques

Nicholas Charles Jacques

March 14, 1950 - February 5th, 2024

Nicholas Charles Jacques passed away peacefully in his home on Monday, February 5th, 2024. He passed surrounded in the loving company of his son, Ryan, daughter-in-law, Andrea and his good friend and caregiver Jacquie Bennet.

Nicholas, (Nick) was born on March 14, 1950, in Helena, Montana to Ernest (Ernie) and Ruth (Weisner) Jacques. Nick has two siblings, an older brother Dan Jacques and a younger sister Liane Jacques. Nick attended Catholic schools in Helena, Bishop Gilmore grade school and Helena Catholic Central High school. He then went on to attain his bachelor's degree in business finance at the University of Montana and subsequently attained his law degree at the University of Montana Law school graduating in 1975. During this time, he married his high school sweetheart Renee Steckler and had two sons, Kenneth, and Ryan Jacques. The family moved back to Helena after law school.

Nick practiced law in Helena for several decades and was also a long-time public defender. Over the years his clients would often give gifts of appreciation. Nick's home still has a picture of the Queen of England hanging in the dining room and a claw foot tub in one of the bathrooms. "I've received haircuts, and a guy gave me some goat meat" for some legal advice after being charged with cruelty to animals. This particular story made it all the way around the world and into a "Ripleys' Believe it or Not" feature in an Arabian paper.

In the early 1990s Nick phased out of his legal practice and purchased a large Queen Anne style house on Ewing Street. After restoring the property, he opened it as The Barrister Bed and Breakfast in 1993. The Barrister also provided a beautiful space for weddings (which Nick often officiated), reunions, special events and work functions.

Nick had a talent for making people feel special and enjoyed good company over a cup of coffee and a treat. His witty sense of humor brought smiles and laughter all around him. Nick loved to be outdoors and would boat, golf and hike whenever he got the chance. His favorite place to vacation was Maui where he actually operated a Bed and Breakfast near Lahaina for a year.

Nick was preceded in death by his parents Ernie and Ruth Jacques and his son Ken Jacques. He is survived by his son, Ryan Jacques (Andrea); grandchildren Joshua and Nathan Jacques, Nicole Maldonado (Dani), Matthew Jacques (Laura) and Annie Wahl (Scott); great grandchildren Ender Klepzig and Beatrix Wahl; his brother Dan Jacques (Patti), and his sister Liane Jacques (Jason).

Funeral services will be held on March 2, 2024, at 1:00pm at Anderson Stevenson Wilke funeral home. After burial at Resurrection Cemetery, a reception will be held at The Barrister, 416 N Ewing St, Helena, MT. If you would like to make a donation in memory of Nick, the family suggests God's Love or The Alzheimer's' Foundation. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Nick.