Trivia

Father of Mark Begich, Former U.S. Senator (2009-2015) from the State of Alaska.

Both Begich, and his immediate successor as US Representative from Alaska, Don Young, died while on board an airplane, Begich on October 16, 1972, and Young on March 18, 2022, almost 50 years apart. Former US Senator from Alaska Ted Stevens, who his son beat for re-election in the 2008 Alaska Senate Election, also died on an airplane on August 9, 2010. Stevens was the serving Senior Senator from Alaska during Nick Begich's time in the US House of Representatives including at Begich's time of death.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Cloud State University in 1952 and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1954.

Both of his parents were of Croatian ancestry.

His brother Joseph Begich served as mayor of Eveleth, Minnesota, from 1965 to 1974, when he was elected to the Minnesota Legislature. He served in the House of Representatives for District 6A from 1975 to 1982 and for District 6B from 1983 to 1992, serving for a total of 18 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives.