Valeria Grace Nickence

Nitaa-Giizhigookwe
Valeria Grace Nickence, age 59, of New Post, WI, passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
Val was born July 22, 1965, in Cleveland, OH, the daughter of Mahlon & Evelyn (Miller) Nickence. She started out school in Cleveland where her parents lived until the early 1970's, then moved to New Post. Val went to St. Francis School then later attended Hayward High School. After graduating school, she attended LCO College where she got her bachelor's degree. Val met Tom Smith Sr., and they had one handsome boy, Thomas Jr. She wanted at least one grandchild and was always saying, "Wish my boy would have one". She joined the LCO Fire Department in 1990 and became a First Responder and Fire Fighter. Her father Mahlon was the fire chief, and her mother Evelyn was secretary/treasurer. Val finished all her fire fighting training with her sister Michell, they both completed Fire Fighter I, II & III. She was going to retire from the fire department in July of this year. Val and her best friend MORT (Debbie Graves) grew up together. She would go with her dad and sister to Debbie's to play while their dads watched wrestling on TV. Val went to school with Debbie's sister, Joanne, in Montana and loved to tell stories of all the fun times they had. After her son was out of school, Val met her significant other, Lawrence Smith. She lived by Bacon Strip with her baby, Mokey, her big big spoiled dog.
She is survived by her significant other Lawrence Smith; son Thomas Smith Jr.; sister Michell Nickence; brother Gordon Nickence (Karen Holmstrom); niece Vala Quaderer; and great nephew Brett Dennis Jr.
Val was preceded in death by her parents Mahlon & Evelyn; brother Ronald Nickence; sister Cecelia Nickence.
Tribal Funeral Rites began at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at New Post Community Center. Gary Quaderer Sr. officiated. Burial was in New Post Cemetery. Visitation began at 5:00 p.m. Monday, February 10th at New Post Community Center.
Honorary casket bearers were Doreen DeBrot, Renee DeBrot, Dwayne DeCora, Debbie Graves, Rosie Grover, Brenda Miller, Duck Potack, Lawrence Smith, Thomas Smith Sr., Thomas Smith Jr., Shelby Tainter & Adele White.
Casket Bearers were Alfred DeMarr, DJ Miller, Rickie Miller, Adrian Nickence, Josh Pringle, Mark Tainter & Tom Tainter.