Bernice N. Gustafson Nicholson, 90, of Tioga, ND formerly of Lignite, North Dakota, passed away on Friday, September 29, 2023 at the Tioga Medical Center in Tioga, ND.

Bernice was born to Christ and Marie (Niebuhr) Nielsen and was raised on the family farm southeast of Powers Lake, ND she attended Garness Country school south of the farm. Bernice married Leonard Gustafson in 1951 and made their home southwest of Lignite, ND where they raised 3 boys.

Bernice ran a number of restaurants for years including Battleview, Lake Shore and Lignite bowling alley. Her passion was cooking and made numerous beautiful wedding cakes. After the death of their son Steven in 1981 she started selling Home Interior which she excelled at. She won jewelry, trips and cruises ending up Home Interior Queen of Sales for ND.

Leonard and Bernice bought a 5th wheel camper and enjoyed traveling the US. They loved taking their grandchildren when they traveled. Always said “we can’t go by a Burger King without stopping for a kids meal”.

They moved to Lignite in 1994 with their grandson Jeremy and Bernice bought the Flaxton Bar & Grill.

They moved to New Mexico with grand and great-grandchildren in 2007. Leonard passed away in 2010 after 59 years of marriage. Bernice married Carrol (Ray) Nicholson in February 2018. Ray passed away in 2019.

Bernice moved back to ND in 2020 where she resided at the Tioga Independent Living. She loved to sew, quilt, build puzzles, play bingo, gamble and visiting with her friends. She also enjoyed flying with her son Brian flying over the rural churches and homesteads.

Bernice is survived by her sons, Michael (Jane) New Mexico, Brian (Denise) McGregor; grandchildren, Jeremy of Pennsylvania, Justin (Sarah Vernon) of Wisconsin, Steven (Christine) of Colorado, Nicole (Jamie) Jorstad of McGregor; great-grandchildren, Vance, Sierra, Zachary, Jordyn (Payton) Loete, Tristin, Bode, Crosby, Leni & Arlowe, and great-great-grandson, Carter.

Bernice was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard and husband, Ray; parents, Christ & Marie; brothers, Willy and Ervin; sister, Gudron; and son, Steven.