Brian Eugene Mickelsen was born on May 10, 1963 at the Tioga Community Hospital in Tioga, North Dakota. He passed away on October 5, 2017 at the family home in Tioga from complications of juvenile diabetes that he developed at the age 14.

He attended Tioga Public Schools for 12 years and graduated in 1981. During high school and after bible school he worked at the Tioga Machine Shop. After graduation he attended the Association Free Lutheran Bible School in Plymouth, MN for two years. Brian then attended Wahpeton State School of Science for three years earning a degree in computer repair and electronics engineering. Shortly after graduating in 1989 he worked for Western Geological Survey out of Houston, Texas. He spent five years in the Gulf of Mexico working on a seismograph boat. The last year he worked there he was off the Coast of Venezuela, South America.

Brian moved back to North Dakota and worked in Williston doing electronic repair before returning to the Tioga Machine Shop for about 10 years. During that time, he earned an online degree in accounting. He worked multiple jobs in the area that included, Wal-Mart, Tioga Food Pride, KTGO and other odd jobs.
He stopped working in 2013 when his kidneys failed from complications of diabetes. He went to live with his sister, Jolene at that time to receive personal and medical care.

While living in Tioga, Brian was an active member of the Zion Free Lutheran Church where he served as a trustee for several years, was an active member in the choir and helped set up and run the sound system. He was a long time member of the Sons of Norway.
Brian was a loving, laid back and very generous person. A quiet man until he got to know you and then he would chat away. He very seldom complained about his aches and pains.

He was proceeded in death by father, Lester in 2004 and mother Lavon in 2012.

Brian is survived by his brother, Richard (Dagmar) and their children; Kristina, Deanna, Trinity, James and Sarah all of Crugers, NY; his sister, Jolene Mickelsen from Jamestown, ND; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.