Minnie Nicoll

Minnie Amelia Schwindt Clevenger Nicoll aged 104 years.

Born April 23, 1912 in Bison KS & passed away August 2, 2016 in Denver, CO.

Graveside Memorial Service Sat. Aug. 13 at Olinger Chapel Hills Cemetery, 6601 S. Colorado Blvd. Centennial, CO 80121, at 2pm.

She was the ninth of ten children born to John & Elizabeth Schwindt. She is preceded in death by her husband Howard Clevenger, second husband William Nicoll, and her nine siblings. She is survived by her daughter Phyllis Blackford, granddaughter Erin Blackford, sister-in-law Vera Ellis, numerous nieces & nephews and many friends.

Minnie grew up in a farming/ranching community near Utica KS. After graduating high school, she taught in a one-room school house and later worked in a grocery store in Utica where she met her future husband, Howard. She then went on to study nursing in which she received a diploma as a registered nurse. Minnie traveled the country for her nursing work. She was in Liberal, KS during the Dust Bowl, spent time in Connecticut, and also worked in Michigan at the Detroit's Children's Hospital. While working at the children's hospital, she gave the first injection of penicillin there to a patient. Minnie left Detroit and traveled to Denver to meet with Howard for their wedding on May 16, 1946. She worked for a period of time for Wright-McGill, a fly fishing company, before returning to nursing. Her first nursing job in Denver was at Colorado General Hospital in the TB sanitarium and then she spent 12 years working at Mount Airy Psychiatric Hospital. In 1973 she moved to Fort Myers, FL for a short while. She returned to Denver in 1974 and was employed at Spalding Rehab Hospital for 15 years before retiring in 1989.

Minnie kept herself busy during retirement. She enjoyed traveling, especially to visit her family in Kansas. She had the opportunity to travel to many other countries including England, Ireland, Germany, Australia, New Zealand & China. She made depression-era quilts, tended her garden and provided before & after school care for her granddaughter. She also enjoyed hosting Sunday dinner at her home for friends and family. Minnie was a life-long learner. Her many hobbies included pottery making, painting in watercolors, weaving & she was an accomplished seamstress. Minnie had a love for all animals, except snakes! She had many pets, including cats, dogs, birds, fish and a rabbit and had a special place in her heart for horses.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her name to The Denver Dumb Friends League, ddfl.org, 2080 S. Quebec St. Denver, CO 80231.