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
I will surely miss Nicki; she came in often to donate plasma. I always look forward to seeing her. She will be missed.
Growing up, Nicki and I were very good friends and neighbors. We would go on many walks and sit in my dad’s Nash Rambler (I’m aging myself) and listen to KOMA on the radio and talk, talk, talk. I remember when Nicki & Larry met. It was magical ✨️ and their love was a beautiful. Tomi, Bobbi, and family, my heart is breaking for your loss. God be with you during this time of grief. I pray the wonderful memories will help while you’re grieving.
Evie
We will remember our friends, Nicki and Larry Ketterling, as friendly, giving and dedicated parents and friends of ours.
We shared all the events our children were involved in. Starting at Beasley Elementary, Buerkle and Mehlville High School through Band, Girl Scouts, picnics, Graduation Parties and more.
Most recently, Nicki and Bill served as Managers of The Board Of Elections at Cliff Cave Library, for 8+ years.
We Will miss You!💕
Love, Denise and Bill Frank
Nicki and I took Acting 101 together way back in 1978 at South Dakota State University, so she was the first friend I made in the SDSU Theatre Department. Over the next few years we appeared in many plays together. Nicki was such a wonderful friend and I have very fond memories of those days.
Please accept our condolences. Nicki was truely a sweet, friendly woman. I knew her thru our friendship with Larry. May God watch over all of her loved ones. Nicki will be remembered.
Got to know Nicki through her involvement in the Queen of All Saints Variety Guild, she was a great friend, and was so blessed to know her, she will be greatly missed,
I had the great honor of knowing the whole family. Nikki and Larry were wonderful parents. They would talk to us kids(at the time) and were understanding to all of us. We gave them many reasons not to be so patient and understanding.
I will miss them. At Trevors funeral Larry told me to just stop in and say hi at my own free will.
I now regret “never having time” what a crock. Take time for friends. Make time I should say. Cheers to all four of the Ketterlings who have passed. My time on this earth blessed me of many wonderful times.
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