Nicole Renee Carter

PLEASE NOTE DATE OF DEATH HAS BEEN CHANGED TO KEEP OBITUARY CURRENT.

Nicole R. Carter, age 33, of Modesto, CA, passed away on March 1, 2024, after an unfortunate battle with addiction and declining mental health. A memorial for Nicole will be held April 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Watertown. Dan Schutte will officiate. The family requests that any memorials may be made out to Michelle Schutte in order to be put toward a trust for Nicole’s children; Deven and Jahzara Green.

An official burial date will be decided privately in the future.

Nicole was born on March 12th, 1990, in Modesto, CA, to Ronald Carter and Michelle (Bechtold) Schutte. Nicole was beautiful inside and out. She was full of life and fiercely independent right from birth! In kindergarten, she read many small books, which catapulted her to becoming an avid reader and writer. Her imagination and dramatics incentivized her to be in several plays growing up. She took part in plays with the Missoula Children's Theatre group in De Smet, SD; such as Rumpelstiltskin and Cinderella. She played Brigitta in "The Sound of Music". She received a boisterous roar from the crowd at the end of the play, when she slid for across the floor as she came out to make her curtsy. With her writing talent, she was selected for All State Journalism in her senior year of high school. Throughout school, ,she also participated in various activities; such as the Scrubs Program, playing violin in orchestra, youth basketball, softball, track, and was also a cheerleader for the Watertown Laker Hockey team. She was very talented and truly cherished being on the Lime Lights Dance Team in Brandon, SD, that took 1st Place in their division, as well as Grand Champion overall in 2002. Although, she attended grade school in the DeSmet and Brandon School Districts, she attended  Watertown High School from seventh grade through graduation with the Class of 2008.

Nicole learned about Jesus with her family at First Baptist Church and Camp Judson, but also sought the Lord on her own at times throughout her adult life. Like many, she was learning how to dive into adulthood taking various jobs throughout her younger years, but in her heart, she wanted to become a realtor. Nicole met the father of her children, and had two beautiful and talented children, Deven and Jahzara Green. She was a proud and doting mother and loved taking them to parks, the zoo, the library, doing crafts and cooking amazing meals. She had a knack for cooking! She loved her kids so very much and had a heart to be so helpful to others in need.

In the last four years, Nicole’s life took an unfortunate turn. We pray that the fight we were in to save her and the roadblocks we hit along the way, will propel us forward in making a difference in the lives of others. Our daughter's life will be an example to others and she will not have died in vain. Her children will know the goodness of who she was and the ultimate fact that in the last conversation her mother had with her, Nicole freely confessed that Jesus Christ is real, He is the Lord, that He died, was buried three days and rose to save her.

Nicole is survived by her two children, Deven and Jahzara Green; her parents Ronald (Kaycee) Carter, of Modesto, CA; her mother, Michelle (Dan) Schutte of Watertown, SD; her sister, Erica (Craig) Pierson-Way, of Sioux Falls, SD; her brothers, Garrett and Grant Halverson; Ronnie Carter, Jr., of Modesto, CA; step-siblings Derek and Jake Schutte, of Watertown, SD; Treasure and Garrett, of Modesto, CA.; her grandparents Phillip (JoAnne) Bechtold and Joseph Adams, all of Sioux Falls, SD. Nicole was preceded in death by her grandfather, Richard Carter, of Modesto, CA and grandmother, Carol Adams, of Sioux Falls, SD. Nicole comes from a very large family of many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorials for the children’s trust can be made to Michelle Schutte 209 4th St SE, Watertown, SD 57201 

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