Walter Peter Nicholson III, 78

Walter Peter Nicholson III was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, he passed away peacefully Dec. 7, 2023. He was born Nov. 3, 1945, to Walter Peter II and Anna Lee Nicholson, Walter spent his childhood in Fort Worth, Texas. 

His high school years running track and field quickly took second place to working on and racing cars. His love for the drag strip and the cars he raced led him into the mechanic's shop, where he spent his college days. Shop work migrated to the front office as Walt found his way to the sales floor. 

After moving from Texas to Colorado, Walt began his courtship with Jeanne. They started their lives together and eventually moved and were married in California. There, they became a family with their first-born, Christopher. After years of hard work in several dealerships, winning awards from multiple manufacturers. Walt and Jeanne, with Chris in tow, made the move to North Idaho to help open the first Toyota store in Coeur d’Alene. Shortly after the move to Idaho, their secondborn, Jeremy, was added to the family. Walt continued his auto dealership work in and around the northwest including building and running Pacific Northwest Motorhomes in Coeur d’Alene with his wife, Jeanne. 

In his spare time, Walt also successfully received multiple U.S. patents for the design of motorhome-related products under his side company, Northern Electronics Research and Development, never losing his sense of humor using the acronym N.E.R.D. Nearing the end of his career, Walt was able to manage his final dealership with his dear friend, Tom Addis. Retirement allowed Walt to reunite with his passion for woodworking. Multiple pieces of furniture, doors and decorations now serve as a reminder of Walt in many homes in and around Coeur d’Alene.

Survived by his two sons, their wives and five grandchildren, Walt will be truly missed by his family and friends.

Please visit Walt’s memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.