Brenda Fay Loken, 71, Grand Forks, N.D., and formerly of Carrington, N.D., died Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at Valley Senior Living in Grand Forks, after a long battle with early onset dementia. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Leeds Lutheran Church in Leeds, N.D. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. prayer service, on Friday, March 21, 2025, at the Leeds Lutheran Church. Burial will be held at St. Petri Lutheran Church, rural York. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Petri Lutheran Cemetery Fund: 5343 59th Street NE, Leeds, N.D. 58346 and also the Alzheimer’s Association.
Brenda was born to Gordon and Charlotte (Sundell) Loken, Dec. 6, 1953, in Rugby, N.D., and grew up on the family farm, rural York, N.D. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Petri Lutheran Church, rural York. She attended Twin Lake Township School through seventh grade in a one-room schoolhouse located a quarter mile north of the farm. She had fond memories of the school and of the programs at Christmas and playing games at recess.
Brenda started eighth grade in Rugby and graduated from Rugby High School in 1971. That fall, she enrolled in nurse’s aide training at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Rugby and worked there for one year. She then enrolled at St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Fargo and graduated in August 1974, earning her registered nursing diploma. She was then hired at St. Luke’s Hospital and worked on the oncology ward until 1979, assisting patients from diagnosis through terminal stages of their disease.
In August of 1979, Brenda moved to Carrington and worked at the Carrington Medical Center. Nine months later, she started commuting to work at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Rugby while also working part time in Carrington. She made life-long friends in Carrington, and she was active in her church and community. She was a parish nurse for a time and also led a Compassionate Friends support group.
Brenda liked doing craft work of many kinds, and she gifted many projects to friends and family. Her Ukrainian eggs were especially beautiful. She also took up photography as a hobby and became quite good at it. She also loved to decorate, and her home was always welcoming, warm and cozy.
Brenda had a soft spot for pets, and Little Dude was a favorite – a fluffy, white miniature Pomeranian. After he died, she adopted Maxwell and Shania, a brother and sister who were a mix of Pomeranian and Dachshund. And over the years, she had a cat or two. One year, a stray mother cat had befriended Brenda and felt safe to have her kittens in Brenda’s garage. Her pets brought her much comfort and enjoyment.
Brenda liked to travel and was adventuresome. In 1976, she joined a Bicentennial wagon train for four days with Fort Totten Trails – her uncle and aunt, Ray and Donna Loken, along with their son Jim, were also on the trail ride, and it was a terrific experience. Other adventures included a trip to the Holy Lands and Greece in 1978, and another to Norway, Denmark, and Sweden in 1982. One of her favorite locations was Medora and the Badlands – most summers, she would spend a weekend there to relax and enjoy the beauty of that place, and she eventually became a life member of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Foundation. This was a common family trip over the years, but a favorite trip was when she took Lance and Marsha to Medora with her, complete with a trail ride. Another fun trip was to Disney World with Greg and Cindy and David and Erik – they had a grand time. She was always good to her siblings and to her nieces and nephews.
In 1986, Brenda pursued a dream of becoming a massage therapist and attended massage therapy school in Kennewick, Wash. She set up her massage therapy practice in Carrington and also traveled to New Rockford, Harvey, Fessenden, Rugby, and Maddock, and also at rodeos in the summer. Her healing touch was appreciated by a large number of clients.
Brenda absolutely adored her aunts and uncles, 20 in total, and many, many cousins. From the time she was a little girl through adulthood, she looked forward to any chance to gather. Even though the stories were told time and time again, they always brought laughter and joy to Brenda, along with everyone else.
In April 2015, she joined Greg and Cindy, and Peter and Marsha, on a trip to Hawaii – this would be the last trip she’d be able to take, and her family was grateful to share this experience with her.
In May 2015, Brenda moved to Grand Forks, having been diagnosed in late 2014 with early onset dementia, perhaps Alzheimer’s, and she lived at Tufte Manor, Maple View Memory Care, and finally Valley Senior Living. Staff were taken with her bright blue eyes and mischievous smile. The family is grateful for the care she received at these places.
Brenda was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Charlotte, and her niece, Marilyn Olga Loken Johnson, along with her grandparents, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She is survived by her brother, Greg Loken, and his wife Cindy, Windsor, Colorado; Lance Loken, Bismarck; and Marsha Johnson and her husband, Peter, Grand Forks. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews: David Loken and his wife Erin Hoople, Fort Collins, Colo., along with their son, Porter; Erik Loken; Jacob Johnson, Carly Johnson Nelson and her husband, Brian, Grand Forks; Thomas Johnson and his wife, Whitney, Spokane, Wash.; and Zoe Fay Loken Johnson and her fiancé, Eric Mathson, Grand Forks.
Online condolences may be left at www.thenelsonfuneralhome.com.
The Nelson Funeral Home of Leeds, ND is in charge of the arrangements.
