[1][2][3] Born in Red Lodge, Montana, Niemi was of Finnish heritage.

He had battled cancer for twelve years and died that February at age 42 at Spokane's Sacred Heart Hospital.

[1][2][3] He previously coached at the University of Montana and for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.

Hundreds attended his memorial service at WSU's Bohler Gymnasium in Pullman.

[4] This biographical article relating to an American football offensive lineman born in the 1920s is a stub.