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Obituary for Vickie Nowlin
Vickie Nowlin, 92, of Brookings, passed away on July 24, 2014. She was born April 12, 1922 in Rice, Minn. to John and Stella Slabik. The family moved to North Dakota when Vickie was young. She grew up on the family farm there and graduated from Wahpeton High School. Following high school, Vickie attended nursing training in Rochester but discovered that she was allergic to chlorine and commonly suffered from skin rashes because of the constant contact with it. She later moved to southern California where she earned a degree in dental hygiene from USC. She began her career working for Dr. Atkinson. In 1965, Vickie was introduced to R.L. Nowlin through a friend. They fell in love and were married in Turlock, Calif. on November 20, 1965. Vickie would later leave her career in dental hygiene to become office manager for the engineering and manufacturing company she and R.L. owned: L & A Engineering. Their specialization in cannery, winery and distillery processing equipment took them to customer locations all over the world. The business was very successful, having 50 employees at its height of production. They retired and sold the business in 1983 and purchased seasonal residences in Lake Tahoe and Brookings. Vickie loved to travel and, though she and R. L. visited several continents, she was especially fond of their trips to the Holy Land and to the areas in Mexico inhabited by the ancient Aztecs. In her earlier days in Turlock she bred quarter horses and thoroughbreds among other animals on their small farm. She also loved politics and served as president of the Republican Women in Turlock. Survivors include her husband of 48 years, R. L. of Brookings, R.L.’s children, Jim Nowlin, his wife Connie and their children Jennifer and Lauren, Nancy Lee, David Nowlin, his wife Georgia and their children Lisa and Nicole, brother Ray Slabik and his wife Mary Lou, and numerous nieces and nephews. Vickie was preceded in death by her sister, Marie Thackery and brothers, Wally and George Slabik. Services were held; interment was at Eagle Point National Cemetery in Eagle Point, Ore. Redwood Memorial Chapel is assisting the family.
