Connie (Lee) Nicholas graduated from Dodge, ND High School in 1966 and received a degree in Home Economics Education from NDSU in 1970.   She and Eugene (Gene) Nicholas were married in 1969 and moved to Cando, ND following graduation.   Connie taught school in the Cando School system for a short time.

Gene and Connie are the third generation to operate the family farm in Towner County.   They are parents of three children.  Joe (NDSU ’95)) and his three sons live in Fargo.  Jay (NDSU‘96) and his wife, Lana, are parents to three children and live in Cando.  Beth (Concordia ‘11) and her husband, Robb Dohman, live in Wahpeton with their daughter and son. 

Gene and Connie have been involved in politics and many community organizations during their 43 years in Cando.  Gene served for 32 years in the North Dakota Legislature and Connie served for 17 years on the Republican National Committee as Committeewoman from North Dakota as well as the Committee’s Secretary.  She served as Secretary of the 2008 Republican National Convention. 

Connie continues her volunteer work on the Advisory Board for the Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise (PCPE), the University of Mary Board of Regents, is a Trustee on the NDSU Development Foundation,  serves on the NDSU Executive Governing Board of Directors, a member of the ND Higher Education Challenge Fund  Board and a Board of Regent’s member of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.  

Gene and Connie now spend their time between homes in Fargo, Scottsdale, AZ and the lake home located near Battle Lake, MN.