Delores Mae Nichols

Delores Mae Nichols, loving mother, sister, Grandmother and Great Grandmother passed away on September 6, 2020. Delores was born on February 4, 1940 in Wapheton, North Dakota to Olaf and Freda Karlstad. She was the second of six children. The Karlstad family migrated to Vallejo during World War II where Olaf was a welder at the Mare Island Shipyards. In the mid-Fifties, the Karlstads moved to Sacramento where they bought a house in South Sacramento. Delores graduated from McClatchy High School in 1958. Delores was married for a short time to Jimmy Miller. They had two children, Tracy and Tammie. Delores then married Gerald Nichols in 1965. Gerry also had a son, Karl. This blended family spent many weekends camping at the coast or in the mountains. Over the years, they used two different trailers for camping trips. Delores and Gerry bought a house in 1972. They were married almost 44 years when Gerry passed away in 2009. Delores worked as a Key Punch Operator for the State of California for 37 years. She was a lifetime member of the Sons of Norway. She also enjoyed bowling in a league with her son Tracy for several years. Delores was a dog lover. Her first dog was Cindy, a German Short Hair, while the second dog was Missy, a Miniature Schnauzer. Delores loved jazz music and often traveled with her sister Marion or daughter Tammie to various jazz festivals throughout the state. Delores was a thoughtful, generous, kind and loving person. She never forgot anyone’s birthday in the extended family. In fact, one of her Christmas gifts was a calendar marked with everyone’s birthday. She was the unofficial “Den Mother” for her son Tracy’s workgroup. At Halloween, she made up bags of candy and treats for Trick or Treaters. She also donated to many charitable causes. A wonderful Grandmother and Great Grandmother, Delores had three Grandchildren—Ben, Dominic and Rachel—and three Great Grandchildren—Sam, Reagan and Maggie. She was an eager and loving caregiver to all her grandchildren, taking them on trips with her to various amusement parks in Northern and Southern California. Delores is preceded in death by her parents, Olaf and Freda Karlstad, her brother Kenny, her sister Carolyn, and husband Gerald. She is survived by three sisters, Marion, Shirley and Pearl, children, Tammie and Tracy and many nieces and nephews and their children.