Derek J. Sullivan

Derek Jerome Sullivan, Age 36, passed away on Tuesday, December 21, 2021. Services will be held at 2:00 PM CST, Monday, December 27, 2021, at Concordia Lutheran Church, with Rev. Toby Heller officiating.  Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, Sunday at Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah.

Derek was born on August 8th, 1985 at 8:18pm weighing 8lbs 3oz in Mandan, North Dakota to Bev (Ziegler) Sullivan and Brent Sullivan. He was raised and continued to live in Beulah, ND.

As a child Derek was forever curious. Tinkering and taking things apart. In his childhood Derek loved going on hunting adventures with his dad and fishing expeditions with his grandparents. His love for being at his sister’s side started immediately and the two became thick as thieves for life. In high school Derek was a football star which led to a scholarship at NDSCS. As the big guy on the field he was a blast to watch! Derek met the love of his life, Nikki, in 2007. It was clear from the start the two had perfected the art of laughter and married in 2011. Their lives changed in the best way when their son Dominic was born in 2013. Derek’s heart was overflowing with love for his son and his new buddy in life.

The two enjoyed building just about anything, repairing all things mechanical, and driving their boat fast in the big waters of Lake Sakakawea (or as Papa Brent would say, “Let the big dog eat!”).

Dominic shares Derek’s curiosity for life and we are often finding him trying to mimic dad’s skills fixing the house (aka drilling a hole in the front door) or working on small engines (aka taking the lawn mower apart and then turning to dad wondering how to put it back together). In 2016 Derek and Nikki’s daughter, Lucy, was born. Lucy is and always will be her daddy’s little princess. Derek and Lucy liked coloring and would create beautiful art together. Her daddy understood Lucy because she has a similar tender heart. They spent a lot of time snuggling together. As Derek got weaker Lucy and him connected with snuggles and sleeping in late.  Derek was so proud of Lucy. He could go on and on telling others how smart she is and how hopeful he was for her bright future.

Derek was the guy you could call when you were in the ditch and needed a tow. He was the guy many of us called looking for help out of a difficult situation, either physically or emotionally. Derek was a gentle giant and when he was his truest self his heart was so big and he loved so fiercely. Although Derek’s later years were complicated by illness we as a family continued to see Derek’s true heart and cherished the times he was well. Our lifetimes are so much more than just the way they end. Although his earthly body failed him at a young age, Derek’s lifetime was filled with love, joy, and family. He was often better at accepting the bitter realities of his end of life than we were. So even in death it seems Derek was still guiding his family. Our lives will never be the same without him.

His family lives on with his wife of 10 years, Nikki (Fischer), Son Dominic, Daughter Lucy, Mother Bev, Sister Erika (Aaron), sister Jennifer (Steve), nieces and nephews Kingston, Azalea, Kyler, Hayden, Kayla, Corey, Brooklyn, Olivia, Piper, Remy, Aniya, and Presley. Grandmother Dorothy, Uncle Eric (Randy), Uncle Jerome (DeEtta), and his four legged friend Stella.

Father and Mother-in-law Wendy and Merle Fischer; sisters-in-law, Amie (Ben) Winters, Randi Barden and Lindsey (JT) Fischer, and brother-in-law, Shawn Fischer.  And so many beloved friends.

He was preceded in death and guided beyond this life by his Father Brent Sullivan, Grandfathers Ralph Sullivan and Oscar Ziegler, and Grandmother Vera Ziegler.

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

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