Alan Douglas Nicholson died of natural causes in Helena on October 18, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was 86.

 Alan changed the face of Helena, the laws of Montana, and the lives of those around him. 

He was born in Billings on June 19, 1940, to Fred and Helen (Hammargren) Nicholson and grew up in Roundup, the oldest of five children. He was a devoted son and older brother, and put his family first throughout his life. He held fond memories of his childhood: fishing the Musselshell and Yellowstone rivers with his friends, and playing football and golf in high school. 

After graduating from Roundup High, Alan attended Montana State College in Bozeman. He majored in mathematics. But in the winter of 1961, his father was killed in a car accident on an icy road. Alan was 21 and in his final year of college. He returned home to help his mother, sister and brothers, setting aside his dreams of a career in aerospace. He completed his degree by correspondence in 1962 and began teaching in Belfry, returning to Roundup on weekends and in the summers to help his mother run and renovate the Sage Motel that his father had built. He later taught math and science at Billings West High School.

 Alan married his high school sweetheart, Susan Polich, in 1961. They had two children, Paul and Kristin. As federal support for science education expanded after Sputnik, Alan received funding to study at Northwestern University, where he earned a master's degree in mathematics in 1967. He went on to pursue doctoral studies, completing all but his dissertation. His experiences in Chicago broadened his view of the world and helped shape his lifelong commitment to the Democratic Party. 

He returned to Montana and made Helena his home in 1970, serving as the math and science supervisor for the Office of Public Instruction. He criss-crossed the state working with teachers and school districts, and helped secure National Science Foundation support for science and mathematics education throughout Montana. 

Alan and Susan divorced in 1973. In 1978, he and Patricia Emineth welcomed their son Aaron. Alan fought for a continuing role in his youngest son's life, and took that fight to the Legislature, helping change Montana's joint-custody laws in 1981. He was an engaged and caring father who believed children should be able to count on both parents. 

Alan became interested in real estate while he was still in college. Eventually, he decided he was better suited to working for himself, and would joke that some of his previous bosses had figured that out before he did. He took a sabbatical from his state job and never looked back. 

He built apartment complexes including Claimstake, Sylvan Haus and Serendipity (now the Fire Tower Apartments), as well as condominiums and individual houses. He also developed the neighborhood around Touchstone, bringing together people of different incomes. He drew inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright, and cared about how buildings fit the land, created a sense of place, and shaped the neighborhoods around them. Resisting the overreach of urban renewal in the late 1970s, he helped preserve the Power Block and Securities Building and renovated the New York Store building. With the support of his loyal staff, he also built, owned or managed other downtown properties, including the Medical Arts Block. He helped introduce tax increment financing to downtown Helena to make historic Last Chance Gulch the city's beating heart. 

In 1983, Alan met Nancy Morris McDonnell at a T-ball game in Billings. Nancy was coaching her son Chris's team with Alan's sister, Linda, who introduced them. Suddenly, Alan was visiting Billings much more often. They married on December 8, 1984, settled in Helena, and brought their families together. Alan and Chris adopted each other two years later. In 1994, Alan and Nancy's daughter Molly was born, surprising their friends and older children. Over the years, they welcomed exchange students from Sweden, Germany and Spain, forming lifelong friendships. The family traveled the world and shared many adventures. Alan and Nancy were married for nearly 42 years. 

In the late 1990s, Alan turned his attention to an abandoned railroad spur near 14th Street. The site became the Great Northern Town Center. He drew on ideas gathered during the family's travels and worked with the city and other partners to create a place where the people of Helena could work, shop and gather. He had loved carousels since boyhood, so he built one there and filled it with native wildlife. His favorite animal was the bobcat, which happens to chase a grizzly. He gave land and other resources to help build ExplorationWorks, Helena's science center for kids. The Great Northern area has drawn interest from other cities across the West. 

Throughout his business career, Alan kept working to improve Montana's schools and communities. He chaired the Montana Board of Public Education and served on boards supporting the Myrna Loy and Montana State University. Alan and Nancy joined other parents in challenging Montana's school-funding system, and in 2005, the Montana Supreme Court ruled the system unconstitutional. They were founding donors to Helena Food Share's new center on the former Caird property. 

Alan's acts of generosity to individuals and organizations were too numerous to count. He gave his time and talents to causes he believed would make his community, state and nation better. He made friends and kept them wherever he went, from his grade school days to his weekly breakfast group at the No Sweat Café. 

His favorite place in the world was the family property at Finley Point on Flathead Lake, which his parents bought in 1942. After his father's death, Alan worked hard to keep it in the family. He expanded the lake house to host the family as it grew, and the lake has remained their gathering place. In recent years, Alan and Nancy spent four to five months each year there, where he found so much peace. 

Alan was original, contrarian, often visionary, and never hesitant to speak his mind. He had the courage to act on his convictions, even when it cost him personally. He was willing to cause "good trouble" to improve business practices, strengthen education and make life better for future generations. He was a loyal friend and generous man with a quick sense of humor. There was laughter in his home every day. He will be deeply missed by the family and friends who were lucky to share their lives with him. 

Alan was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Helen, and his brothers Rob and Jim. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his children, Paul, Kristin, Chris (Emily), Aaron (Zulaykha) and Molly; his grandchildren, Craig, Shelby, Mullain and Vaughan; his brother, Ken Nicholson (Patti), and sister, Linda Ravnikar; his nieces Lisa, Angela, Kara and Elizabeth; and his nephews Danny and Jimmy. 

His family thanks Visiting Angels, St. Peter's Home Health and Hospice teams, and Lisa's In-home Senior Assistance for their care in his final days.

 A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, November 15, at 2pm in the Helena Civic Center ballroom. Please send memories and notes about Alan to memoriesofalannicholson@gmail.com. The family plans to display these messages on a screen during the celebration of life, so those unable to attend can also take part. In lieu of flowers, donations in Alan's memory are welcome at the Helena Education Foundation, ExplorationWorks, or Helena Food Share.