Pearl Fisher (Carlson/Wagner/Ochsner) Nickels passed away of natural causes on February 8, 2024, in Glasgow, Montana, marking the end of a colorful life that included music, art, education, long friendships, and always livestock. In her 92 years, Pearl worked hard at whatever she set her mind to, but she never missed an opportunity to visit with friends and strangers alike. There was always time to visit over a good meal, or at least a cup of coffee.
Born with her twin sister, Ruby, on July 9, 1931, in Sidney, Montana, Pearl quickly grew to love helping her parents, Fred and Dorothy (Miller) Fisher, on the family farm. She recalled that her earliest job was holding the cow’s tail out of the way while her dad did the milking. Growing up in the 1930s, she saw her parents survive the Great Depression on the strength of their milk cow herd, giving her a lifelong fondness for dairy cows.
A lifelong learner, Pearl valued education, attending Mount Pleasant Rural School and graduating from Sidney High School in 1950. She attended the University of Montana in Billings where she earned a teaching degree and then taught in one-room country schoolhouses. Although she never learned how to “Google” things, she always had a phone book, a road atlas, and a variety of reference books on hand to look up what she might want to know, and she loved to visit about a wide variety of topics.
In 1953, Pearl married William E. Carlson, and they resided on the farm northeast of Circle on Prairie Elk, where they farmed, raised beef cattle, and milked cows. Pearl was an accomplished musician, and she and Bill played for dances at schoolhouses and dance halls all over eastern Montana. Always game to try new things, Pearl learned how to artificially inseminate cows during this time and worked as a representative for an AI company. Three sons (Ernie, Robin & Brad) were born to Pearl and Bill before the marriage ended in 1968.
For several years, Pearl worked on ranches inseminating cows and selling AI components. She was very involved in bringing different breeds of cattle into Montana beef herds. In 1971, she married Richard Wagner and they resided on the Wagner Ranch northeast of Nashua. Son Todd was born in 1972. They later divorced.
Pearl then purchased a small farm near Nashua. She married Leo Ochsner in 1985, and they enjoyed several years of travel, car club activities, and art shows before Leo passed away. Pearl enjoyed all kinds of art, particularly creating her acrylic paintings of livestock and wildlife.
In 1997, she married Jack Nickels, Sr. and they resided on the Nickels Ranch south of Fort Peck. As Jack and Pearl aged, the topic of retirement would come up, and Pearl once said she would “keep ranching until she turned up her toes.” True to her word, she continued to operate the Nickels Ranch after Jack passed away in 2021. And even though she liquidated her herd just a few weeks before her passing, she had to keep some calves back. She just wasn’t happy without cows around. While she enjoyed painting, playing cards, dancing, and playing her guitar, in her words, “ranching was her game.” She leaves behind a legacy of hard work, appreciation of land and livestock, and a fearlessness of trying new things.
Pearl is survived by her sons Robin (Darlene) Carlson of Laramie, WY, Brad (Denise) Carlson of Owatonna, MN and Todd Wagner of Nashua, MT, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Leo and Jack, brother Warren Fisher, sister Ruby Lauridson, infant twin brothers William and Fred, brother Carl, son Ernie Carlson, and grandson Lee Carlson.
The family would like to thank Prairie Ridge Assisted Living and the entire FMDH staff and doctors for the exceptional, compassionate care Pearl received in her final days. In lieu of flowers, Pearl requested memorials be sent to Our Redeemers Lutheran Church in Nashua, Montana.
PBS Montana had a segment on Pearl that can be viewed on their website. It starts at 19:15 minutes. https://www.pbs.org/video/no-149-fort-peck-to-ovando-avdmdk/
Visitation will be at Bell Funeral Home in Glasgow from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2024. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend to share Pearl stories. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 23, 2024at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Nashua. A reception will follow at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow at noon. Interment will be in Sidney, Montana in the Fisher family plot at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Condolences for the family may be left at bellmortuarymontana.com.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday February 22, 2024
Bell Mortuary
701 2nd Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Memorial Service
10:00 a.m.
Friday February 23, 2024
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
115 Mabel Street
Nashua , Montana 59248
Reception
12:00 p.m.
Friday February 23, 2024
Cottonwood Inn
54250 US Highway 2
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Graveside Service
10:00 a.m.
Tuesday July 9, 2024
Sidney Cemetery
County Road 350
Sidney , Montana 59270
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday February 22, 2024
Bell Mortuary
701 2nd Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Memorial Service
10:00 a.m.
Friday February 23, 2024
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
115 Mabel Street
Nashua , Montana 59248
Reception
12:00 p.m.
Friday February 23, 2024
Cottonwood Inn
54250 US Highway 2
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Graveside Service
10:00 a.m.
Tuesday July 9, 2024
Sidney Cemetery
County Road 350
Sidney , Montana 59270
Share
Glen and Stephanie Meier says
Todd
My dearest sympathies for your loss. What a great inspiration your mother was. We had many wonderful hours visiting with her and listening to her wisdom. We will miss her and hold her in our memories .
Lisa Garsjo Thievin says
Pearl was one of my first bosses while I was in High School. I learned so much from her…and felt as if she had adopted me as I was always greeted with a huge hug and a smile. She awed many of us neighbors with her physical strength. Accolades to whoever wrote her obituary. You definitely described Pearl to a T
Rest In Peace Pearl.
I’m sad we already have travel plans so will not be able to attend her service.
Dan DeWitt says
Hauled hay to for many years, enjoyed coffee and cookies and many stories every trip, will miss our visits.
Gideon Yutzy says
Pearl was a precious soul to my family, we have been blessed to spend time at and hunt the Nickels ranch for many years and had many good conversations with Pearl ! Many precious memories of a dear person ! Rest in peace!
Dennis Schneider says
My son, son in law and I hunted on the ranch for 17 years. Loved the times we had coffee and always had Pearl and Jack over to the bunkhouse for dinner while there. Always so generous, kind and thoughtful and loved hearing the stories about the ranch over the years.
Pearl absolutely loved ranching and raising cattle. She was truly special and one of the nicest people I have ever met in life. What a true Blessing she was to all who knew her.
Every year, drove the 2200 miles from Florida, looking forward to catching up on what was going on at the ranch and the cattle industry-loved the conversations.
Thank you and may God be glorified next week during her services!
Jean Shamley Snider says
Pearl was my first teacher at the Prairie Elk School for my first 3 years of education & what a foundation that was for me. I ran in to Pearl many times over the years as my husband & I moved around with different jobs. We landed back in Eastern MT and I so enjoyed catching up with Pearl. Each visit was like a continuation of the previous ones. What a legacy she leaves behind!
Ronelia Hill Parry says
Sorry for your loss! Pearl was full of zest and encouragement! One of my fondest memories was when neighbor Lisa talked me into helping Pearl and Richard butcher chickens. We had quite the assembly line. My 1st and last experience doing that but we became and stayed friends throughout the years. Will miss her smile, enthusiasm and big greetings!
Deborah Jo Smith says
My husband and I met Pearl several years ago threw our youngest daughter’s acquaintance with her. She was a jewel; in the brief time we knew her she became much like family. My life has been blessed by the privilege of having spent time with Pearl. I only wish we could have seen her more often. I pray that I will see her again in Glory!
The Smith Family
Rose Marie Wagner-Cain says
Dear Todd, Jim, Rose Marie, Cyrstal, Travis send our condolences for the loss of your Mother. You said it when you said she was quite willing to share and visit with others.Tgere was always a story or memory to share and enjoy. I always got that she liked being around the livestock, better than some people I think I heard her say once. My Dad, Gabin Wagner called her Pearly Mae, when you, Richard and Mother visited Bozeman. Jim remembers your Mother’s stand out Voice and her hard work. Please feel free to let us know if we can do anything . Love you, Rose Marie, The Cain Family
Connie Helgeson Danelson says
Brad and Todd, your mother was one who made so many memories that books, not chapters, could be written with her stories and wisdom. May your memories keep Pearl strong in your hearts. Thoughts and prayers to all of you. Hugs