Nicholas Hankins

Mass of Christian Burial for Nicholas D. "Nick" Hankins will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at the St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Gillette, Wyoming with Father Cliff Jacobson officiating.A vigil service will be at 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 5, 2008 at the Walker Funeral Home.A memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 2008 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Wolf Point, Montana with Father Steve Zabrocki as Celebrant burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery.Nick, age 20, passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at the Children's Hospital in Aurora, Colorado from complications from surgery. Upon his request a private cremation service has taken place.Nicholas Dillon Hankins was born on May 2, 1987 the second son of Michael and Lois (Pittenger) Hankins in Wolf Point, Montana. Nick attended elementary school in Wolf Point and Plentywood, Montana. Nick's family moved to Gillette, Wyoming in the middle of his seventh grade and he attended the Sage Valley Junior High. Nick graduated from Campbell County High School in 2007. While in high school, Nick was a member of the choir and received a certificate for the most inspirational student. His love of music continued and he enjoyed listening to music in his spare time. Nick also enjoyed going with his friend Nolan to the boiler rooms at the school. He was fascinated by seeing them and how they worked. After graduating Nick had a part time job as an Administrative Helper at the Campbell County Senior Center in Gillette. He spent other days with his friends at Sol Domus. His passion was for John Deere memorabilia and he looked forward to buying an antique John Deere tractor. Nick was always seen wearing a John Deere tractor shirt and would collect anything with the John Deere logo. He went to numerous tractor shows with his family.Nick was a happy person who cared about other people deeply. If they were having a bad day he would do anything to cheer them up. His smile was contagious. Nick looked forward to spending time with his older brother, Allen. When they were together they would enjoy going to movies or to the Dairy Queen for ice cream.When at home with his family you could always hear him laughing when he watched "The Three Stooges" or pro wrestling on television. Nick loved fireworks and was looking forward to the Pyrotechnics? convention in Gillette this summer. Music, dancing and being patriotic were important to Nick. He was a member of the St. Matthews Catholic Church.He will be greatly missed by his surviving family and friends.Nick is survived by his parents, Mike and Lois Hankins of Gillette, Wyoming, his brother Allen Hankins of Laramie, Wyoming, maternal grandmother, Annette Pittenger of Scobey, Montana, paternal grandfather, Harley and step paternal grandmother, Marie Hankins of Townsend, Montana, several aunts, uncles and cousins.He is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Bruce Pittenger and his paternal grandmother, Jean Hankins.A memorial has been established in Nick's name and can be sent in care of the Walker Funeral Home, 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, Wyoming 82716. Condolences may be sent via the website wwwwalkerfuneralgillette.com.