Nicolette (Nikki) Gilbertson, 67, Bismarck, passed away March 1, 2023, at Sanford Medical Center, after battling several bouts with cancer. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Bismarck Funeral Home in Bismarck, North Dakota. Family will be greeting guests one hour prior to the service.
Nikki was born May 14, 1955, to Warren and Barbara (Linnertz) Hopkins at the Garrison Memorial Hospital in Garrison, North Dakota. She attended St. Nicholas Catholic School and graduated from Garrison High School. She then graduated from Capital Commercial College in Bismarck.
Nikki married Bob (Gilby) Gilbertson on May 25, 1974. They made their lifelong home in Bismarck with a four-year stint in California. They were blessed with the birth of their son, Alan, in 1977.
Nikki’s passion was her family with deep commitments to genealogy and her beloved grandchildren. Photography (especially taking photos of the moon) brought her joy. She also enjoyed baking, reading, couponing, mall walking, bell collecting, and getting together with friends. She remained in close contact with her Garrison high school classmates.
She was obsessed with technology and always had to keep up with anything new. Her Facebook friends looked forward to her faithful Friday updates about all of her detailed life happenings. She also loved their cat, Lucky, and shared “kitty photo dumps” frequently on social media.
Nikki worked at various restaurants prior to employment as a technology trainer at Sykes. She also worked at Coventry and retired from Aetna in March of 2018.
Nikki’s legacy to all who knew her was her kind and giving heart.
She is survived by her husband Bob; one son, Alan (Jamie) Gilbertson; granddaughter, Kayla Gilbertson and grandson, Carson Gilbertson; 12 step grandkids; sisters: Sandi (Glenn) Fandrick, Tricia (Brian) Zietz, and Lola (Bob) Weichel; brothers: Jim (Tammy) Hopkins and Lawrence (Pam) Hopkins; step family: Vicki Leidholm, Dan (Gail) Leidholm, Tim (Debbie) Leidholm, Dale (Tracy) Leidholm and Mike (Cindy) Leidholm; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Warren and Barbara; her in-laws, Art and Helen Gilbertson; and infant son, Duane.