Nicki Ann Johnson Ketterling
Nicki Ann Johnson Ketterling, actress, animal lover, friend to all, passed away in her home on October 5, 2025, at the age of 77.
Visitation will be Monday, October 20, 2025, from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 5508 Telegraph Rd., St. Louis, Mo. Services will be at 11 a.m.Tuesday October 21, 2025, at the church.
The first born to Robert W. and Aphrodite (Basuris) Johnson, Nicki Ann was born July 25, 1948, in Rapid City, SD, in the beautiful Black Hills.
During her first year in high school, she met and fell in love with Larry Ketterling. They married on June 21, 1969. The couple was married for 56 years. They were true partners.
Nicki and Larry had five children: Trevor (Marcie), Fairan, Garrett, Tristan, and Tomi Kaye (Quinton) Argent. Three grandchildren: Gryphon Ketterling, and Sophia and Rodney Argent.
Nicki was a teacher and librarian, but her true love was caring for her children and grandchildren. She volunteered for everything from room mother to Girl Scout leader. Her passion for acting started at a very young age. At about two-years-old she was performing for private audiences of her parents’ friends. As a theater minor at South Dakota State University she performed in many plays and was in the cast of Prairie Repertory Theater. Her love for theater continued after she moved to St. Louis in 1983. She was active in Affton Center Stage and Kirkwood Theater Guild. Besides performing, Nicki directed, worked on costumes, sets, and box office.
Her church was an integral part of her life. Over the years, she volunteered at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, serving on the council, Friendship Circle, vacation Bible school, choir and doing about anything else the church needed.
Whether it was classical or modern movies, she liked all genres and knew all the actors. She passed that love of movies to her family. They all can recite movie lines.
Being the artistic person she was, Nicki crafted, sewed, crocheted, and loved to decorate her house especially at Christmas.
Nicki not only donated her time and talents, she gave to many organizations including the Humane Society, Arbor Day Foundation, and the St. Louis Zoo.
Nicki is survived by four children and three grandchildren, one sister Bobbi Johnson (Dave) Lower, Sioux Falls, SD and several nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her husband Larry, her son Trevor and daughter-in-law Marcie and her parents.
KUTIS SOUTH COUNTY SERVICE