Nina Spannagel

Nina Marie Garverich Spannagel, aged 82, was released from the bonds of dementia Tuesday, September 23, 2025.  She was born to Cecil Ray and Montana Suzie Clemons Garverich on December 27, 1942, in Forsyth Montana.

She grew up on the family ranch on Sarpy Creek.  She was an artistic, bookish girl who loved animals, especially her horses and cats.  She was a Montana Girls State delegate and graduated Valedictorian from Hysham High School in 1961. Everyone wanted Nina on their team for Trivial Pursuit!

On December 27, 1961, she married Morris Lee Spannagel in Hysham. Together they had two children, Tawni and Tara.  Mom was very involved in the Hysham community. She was a charter member of the Treasure Belles, an organizational leader for the Bit & Spur 4-H club, School Board Chairman and Hysham Town Council member. She was also a set designer/costume designer/make-up artist for the Hysham Community Players and horse show/rodeo mom extraordinaire.

Nina worked a variety of jobs.  She was a short order cook, a car hop and a printer at the Hysham Echo. In 1973 she began working at the Treasure County ASCS office.  She was known for her expertise in helping farmers navigate available programs with humor.

Her life-long love of learning led her to a computer night class.  In 1984 she parlayed what she learned into a position as an Automation Coordinator at the State FSA Office in Bozeman. In this position she travelled multiple times to every county in the state, bringing the offices into the computer era and making innumerable, lasting friendships along the way.

She brought to Bozeman her love of community service, serving as the first female Lion Club president as well as donating her time to multiple other community efforts.

Nina retired from government work in 2007, and pursued her true love, home renovation.  Having remodeled every home she owned, she decided to start her own business, Silk Purse Construction.  Nina was a self-taught, skilled designer and craftsman, especially with tile, but she could hang sheetrock, plumb the bathroom, build fences and replace cabinets with the best of them.

Through all of it, she never missed a birthday. She remembered all of her family and friends and sent cards often to let them know they were loved.  Each of her grandchildren, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews could look forward to receiving a unique themed Christmas Ornament every year. She and her childhood friends met for the weekend annually and became known as the “Chico Girls”.

In her favorite role as Gram9, she went to uncounted county fairs, science fairs, plays, fashion shows, wrestling and gymnastics meets, football, basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball games all over Montana and Wyoming in support of her grandchildren. A talented seamstress, she made them elaborate Halloween costumes. She was so proud of all of them and held true to her promise she would not die until she saw each of them graduate college.

She was a remarkable woman who will be remembered for her love of reading, carpentry and horseracing as well as her artistry, grit, wicked sense of humor, sage advice, unapologetic opinions and infectious laugh. Her legacy includes buckets of tools and stacks and stacks of books.

Nina was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Jack Ward and Wayne Ward, sisters Mae Krone and Irene Cantrell, son-in-law Ted Zier, and her dearest companion Hoot.

Nina is survived by her daughters Tawni Zier and Tara (David) Nickoloff.  Grandchildren Kaleb (Victoria) Zier, Colton (Cheyenne) Zier and great-granddaughter Brecklyn Rose, Bailey (Nikki) Nickoloff, Erica Nickoloff and Noah Nickoloff, her brother Michael (Deb) Garverich, sister-in-law Della Ward, numerous beloved nieces and nephews and bonus grandchildren Jeff Nickoloff and Ben Phillips.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter (heartofthevalleyshelter.org), the Treasure County 89ers or The Walk to End Alzheimer’s Highgate Billings. 

The family would like to say a special thank you to the staff at Highgate Senior Living for the love and care they gave to Nina.

Services will be held October 10, 2025, at 11:00 am at the Dahl Funeral Home 10 Yellowstone Ave Billings, MT