Nick Lazanas

Nick Lazanas, 81, of Great Falls, passed away after a 20 year courageous battle of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma on November 2, 2016.A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and on Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Schnider Funeral Home. The Trisagion service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 6, 2016 at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 7, 2016 at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church with Father Haralambos Rob Spaliatsos officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery with military honors. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Nick was born on February 2, 1935 in Great Falls, Montana to Paraskevas and Mary Lazanas. Nick graduated from Great Falls High in 1953 and from the University of Montana in 1957 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. He served in the US Army from 1957 - 1959 and was assigned to serve in the US Army Counter Intelligence Corp. During that time, he was stationed in Germany and also assigned to the US Embassy in Athens, Greece. Upon completion of his tour of duty with the US Army, he began his employment with Cascade County in 1960 as supervisor of the Cascade County Reclassification Office. In 1972, the State of Montana took over the duties of the Appraisal and Assessors Office. Upon retirement, he was appointed for 3 terms by the County Commissioners to the Cascade County Tax Appeal Board. The last 2 terms he was the chairman of the board.He was a life member of the VFW and a member of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church.Nick was a kind and caring man who would help anyone in need. He truly was the God Father to so many people.Nick enjoyed sports, but his love was horseracing. He enjoyed the excitement and thrill of horseracing. He loved watching, analyzing and betting the horses, especially with his friend, Steve. Horseracing was his passion and he was able to enjoy it until the very end.He was especially grateful to Dr. Mel Margaris and his staff who took such good care of him during this long battle. Dr. Mel held a special place in Nick's heart. We also wanted to thank Dr. Grant Harrer and his staff and all the nurses in the infusion room at Benefis Sletten Cancer Center and Peace Hospice and the wonderful people there who went to great lengths to make Nick's last few months comfortable and gave him the ability to enjoy his passion.Nick is survived by his brother, Theodore P. (Helen) Lazanas; nieces and nephews in Greece; and many God children; and a very special God daughter, Georgia Vogel whom he considered a sister and cared very much about because of all the things she did for him during the last year of his life. He also leaves behind many close friends, too numerous to mention.He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Mary and father Paraskevas (Tuffy) Lazanas.He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Rest in peace Nicky, your long fought battle is over and we will miss you!Memorials and flowers are suggested to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 1101 1st Ave. N., Great Falls, MT 59401 or Peace Hospice, 1101 26th Str. S., Great Falls, MT 59405.