Nicole Marie Brown of Drayton, North Dakota passed away at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks after enduring a motorcycle accident on Aug. 26, 2023. Nicole was born on Sept. 25, 1978 in Grafton, North Dakota to Peter and Bonnie (Woinarowicz) Brown of Drayton. She was a happy and energetic child that loved riding her bike, playing with friends, and playing trucks with her big brother Nathanial. Summer weekends at Lake of the Woods and Christmas in Hawaii were always welcomed events. Nicole attended Drayton Public School and graduated in 1997. She continued her education at Northland Community College in East Grand Forks, Minnesota for Secretary Training. She had a few different jobs over the years including working at Kelly’s Country Market in high school, at Marvin Windows, UPS, and Arnesen’s Rocky Point Resort after college, and most recently as a bartender at the Zoo Too Bar.
Nicole married Jeremy Knudson on Feb. 1, 2003. She was a loving mother to their three children; James, Natasha, and Jonathan (JJ) Knudson. There was nothing more important to her than her children. She had an unbelievable talent for cooking and baking and a great love for her dogs Gracie and Daisy. She liked to fish and always had a smile on her face. Purple was her favorite color and could quite possibly be considered an obsession. Nicole found her soulmate, Tim Olson, in 2020. They had a love and a bond that most people can only hope to find. They loved to travel together and had planned to retire in Mexico. They were recently engaged and looked forward to the future they would build together. Their connection ran deep and God knew that neither could go through this life without the other. They went to paradise together and will spend eternity the same.
Nicole is survived by her children James (19), Natasha (17), and Jonathan (16); parents, Peter and Bonnie Brown, Drayton; brother, Nathanial (Amber) Brown, Drayton; uncle and aunts, Deane and Pam Scharmer, Drayton; Joy LaHaise, Fargo; Carol Woinarowicz, Drayton; and many cousins; future mother-inlaw, Jinny Olson, Bemidji, Minnesota; future children, Trish Mikelson (Ryan Avdem), Thompson, North Dakota; Tonya (Olson) Fairchild (Jason), Grand Forks; Jamiee Olson, Bemidji, Minnesota; future grandchildren, McKenna, Mason, and Mak Mikelson, Jailin and Dex Avdem, Lexus Olson; and fur babies, Gracie and Daisy.
Nicole was preceded in death by her fiancée, Timothy Olson, Drayton; grandparents, John (Jack) and Flora Brown, Mike and Helen Woinarowicz; cousin, Amy Sharmer; uncles, Larry LaHaise and Caren Woinarowicz; future father-in-law Donald Olson; future son in-law Jake Mikelson; future brother-in-law Randy Olson.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Edward’s Catholic Church, Drayton. Interment was held in St. Edward’s Cemetery. Visitation was held at the church for one hour prior to the service at Austin Funeral Chapel, Drayton.