Nicholas (Nick) Anthony Rivera, 21, of Missoula, Montana, passed away Sunday, June 24th, 2012. Heaven has received a beautiful, gentle, earth loving soul. To celebrate Nick's short but well-lived life, a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fosston with Father Dave Super presiding. A visitation in memory of Nick will be held on Monday evening, July 9th, 2012 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fosston from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Interment will take place at Hansville Cemetery, rural Fosston. The Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston is in charge of the arrangements and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com.Nick was born to Marge Ronning (Rivera) and Mike Iron-Necklace on Sept. 10, 1990 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He grew up in McIntosh, MN and graduated from Win-E-Mac High School in 2009. His love for this world led him on many great adventures. He was a free-spirited, kind and gentle person who embraced nature and the world around him. Nick had many past-time hobbies and talents including his creative musical talents of playing music on a two-stringed guitar, a never-ending supply of humor, the gracious ability to befriend all types of people from different walks of life, his artistic talents, his ability to outplay anyone at a game of hacky sack, and his love of fishing and taking nature walks. Most importantly, Nick had the gift of being true to himself and to his beliefs. Nick cared greatly for the environment, and respected God's creation. He had a love for animals and was a strong proponent of animal rights. He was very passionate about creating a world of peace and enjoyed attending arts and music festivals around the country that shared these beliefs. Nick's personality was larger than life.Nick died tragically from injuries received by a passing train, while attending the Love Your Mother Earth Arts & Culture Festival at Rock Creek Lodge near Missoula, MT.Left to mourn Nick's passing; his infant daughter, Jasper Rivera and her mother, Courtney Lockwood (Missoula, MT), his mother and step-father Marge & Kenny Ronning (McIntosh, MN), sister, Kimberly Boisse (Duluth, MN), brother, Joseph Rivera (McIntosh), father, Mike Iron-Necklace, grandmother, Carol Johnson (Thief River Falls, MN), grandfather, Mark Anthonik Rivera (Huntsville, AL), and, aunts; Michelle Demarce (Brainerd, MN), Berni (Chad) Kaiser (Shevlin, MN), Angela (Joseph) Bertino (Hicksville, NY), Marlene (Dennis) Schaefer (Buffalo, MN), and Melanie (Steve) Walberg (Detroit Lakes), uncles; Martin Rivera (Ely, MN) and Matthew Rivera (Fertile, MN), great aunt Patricia (Al) Halfaker (Grand Rapids, MN), second cousin, Jeremy Braulick (Minneapolis, MN). Nick will also be greatly missed by his many cousins.Nick was greeted at Heaven's gate by his Savior, and by his maternal grandmother, Judith Rivera along with his uncle, Mark ‘Lil Tony' Rivera, great grandparents, Martha & Alfred Braulick and great uncles Larry & Bill Braulick.