Nicole Catherine Leman, 24, died Dec. 9, 2015 (Dec. 8 in Alaska) from a fall while hiking in a mountainous region and traversing the face of a challenging slope at Matukituki Waterfall near Wanaka, New Zealand. She was the youngest child of former Alaska Lieutenant Governor Loren Leman and his wife Carolyn. (Editor’s note: the full video of the memorial service may be found at the end of this article)
A lifelong Alaskan, Nicole was born in Anchorage on December 28, 1990. She was introduced to Alaska politics early when her mother brought her with her two siblings to the House gallery to watch and listen to Governor Wally Hickel deliver his State of the State speech to the Alaska Legislature in joint session. Her father was then starting his second term in the Alaska House.
Nicole attended Turnagain Elementary School through the 4th grade, then Grace Christian School, graduating in 2009. During high school, Nicole was class president twice, played volleyball on very competitive teams, was track team captain and ran on two State championship 4×800 relay teams at Lathrop High School in Fairbanks, setting a new personal record in her last race.
She learned Spanish and used it when she served on a mission trip to Mexico. Nicole represented Alaska as Miss Alaska Junior National Teenager in 2006 at the national pageant in Nashville. Two years later, as Miss Alaska Senior National Teenager, she won first place in talent playing piano at the pageant in Nashville. She also learned more about Alaska politics when she attended Alaska Girls State in Wasilla. In a high school paper she wrote her senior year, she said, “I at first was reticent about my father’s encouragement that I attend, but on arriving I immediately met some great gals, and learned so much at Girls State that I consider that one of the best weeks of my life.”
Since earliest childhood Nicole fished for salmon each summer at her family’s setnet sites near Ninilchik, where she was as comfortable in boots and raingear as she was in pageant dresses. She enjoyed picking and cleaning fish, digging clams, giving ATV rides, helping with cooking, and many of the other chores that go with this hard work.
Following high school, Nicole attended LeTourneau University, graduating summa cum laude with a B.S. degree in kinesiology in 2013. In college she played intercollegiate volleyball, ran cross-country, won conference as a senior, ran at the national championship race, and was named LeTourneau’s Female Athlete of the Year. Nicole served on student missions to Mexico, Utah and Austria. She also researched wheelchair design for third world use and went on a mission trip to Kenya to confirm findings.
After returning home, Nicole worked as a personal trainer at the Alaska Club, coach, aide for people with disabilities, and counselor at Tanalian Bible Camp on Lake Clark. She ran in several Anchorage community races, the Lost Lake Run, and an ultra-marathon (50 miles) through the mountains from Cooper Landing to Hope. She loved backpacking in the Chugach Mountains, biking, berry picking, gardening, and baking.
Nicole planned her trip in detail and spent a year in New Zealand, where she hiked nearly every trail, likely covering 2,000 miles or more, stayed in more than 200 cabins, and worked on organic farms in exchange for room and board. Before leaving Alaska she had said, “…I believe God is using my gifts and talents through this journey. He is leading me, using me as a tool in His kingdom.” Since her death, hundreds of Facebook posts and other media coverage attest that she made an impact. The owner of a farm near Otaki wrote, “My wife and I have hosted hundreds of young people at our property during the past 15 years. Nicole Leman is the most special we have ever had. Her generosity, kindness, gentleness, and work ethic can be summed up in one word—LOVE. She talked about her family in Alaska who loves her—and of her love for Jesus. And she confided to him, “When I’m up in the mountains, I feel so close to Heaven.”
In the blur and numbness of the first night after we got the call from the U.S. Embassy in Auckland about Nicole’s death, God reminded us of His Word in Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” We believe that through her life and words, our dear Nicole was bringing the good news that brings real peace.
The Lemans say, “The pain of losing Nicole is immense, but we know that she lived to glorify God. We look forward to seeing her again. We are blessed to have her in our family and are comforted by our faith that she is now safely home.” In addition to her parents, Nicole is survived by her brother Joseph and wife Erica; sister Rachel Brandt and husband Joel; five nieces and nephews; grandmother Margaret Bratvold (89); and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 19 at 11 am at Anchorage Grace Church at 12407 Pintail St. Memorial contributions may be made to the Nicole Leman Scholarship at Grace Christian School, 12407 Pintail St, Anchorage, AK 99516 (www.gracechristianalaska.org) for student missions; or the Nicole Leman Endowment at LeTourneau University, PO Box 7001, Longview, TX 75607-7001 (www.letu.edu) for assistive technology, student missions, and athletics support.
(Editor’s note: the absolutely amazing video tribute to Nicole starts at 1:30:30 below)
Nicole Leman Memorial Service FULL from Anchorage Grace Church on Vimeo.
Memories, messages of encouragement, pictures of Nicole, and condolences can be sent to the Lemans at PO Box 190773, Anchorage, AK 99519-0773; [email protected]; or [email protected].
Written by Nicole’s father, with tearful input and editing from all family members.
