On May 16th, 2023, Jerrika Cynthia DeCoteau , 19, passed away suddenly at CHI St. Alexius Health in Bismarck ND.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Bismarck Funeral Home. Family will be receiving guests an hour prior to the service.
Jerrika was born May 3, 2004, to Jessica DeCoteau in Bismarck ND and passed away 13 days after her 19th birthday. She loved to play Fortnite with all her siblings and friends, loved taking drives to watch sunsets, loved to listen to music, and she recently took an interest in reading romance novels. She was passionate about hair and makeup, by constantly changing her hair style and doing different makeup looks. You could never keep a bag of chips safe around Jerrika especially, Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream™. Her childhood was spent playing with Barbies and littles pet shop toys. She always had a smile on her face, a silly personality with a big heart. She was precious. She was caring. She had the best giggle that was contagious.
Her freshman year of high school she went to live with her aunt Jenn and Sonny in Dickinson ND. Where she played basketball, loved to play Sequence and Uno with Jenn and Sonny, and pretty much beat them every single time. She then moved back to Bismarck with her mother where started her sophomore year at BHS. She started working at Burger King with her sisters, which she loved and never had so much spending money! Right after starting her job, she started to help take care of her cousins, Kiefer, Kaylee and Tylee. In the beginning of 2023, she started work at Arco on Main in Bismarck, ND with her grandma and continued to care for her cousins.
She is survived by her mother, Jessica DeCoteau; stepfather, Joe Vivier; siblings, Justice, JaeLeigh, Jayce, Jaxon, Driver, Neveah, Natawny; grandma, Cynthia Hurkes; Auntie Jennifer (Sonny) DeCoteau; nephews, Kyzer and Elijah; as well as tons of family and friends who love her and will miss her greatly.
She is preceded in death by Papa DuWayne Hurkes and great uncles and aunts. Rest in peace. We all love you, Jerrika.
Jerrika was able to give the gift of life through organ donation.