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Susie Brynjolfson-Meide

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After a courageous battle, our extraordinarily brave, beautiful Susie succumbed to the awful disease of metastatic breast cancer on January 17, 2023, surrounded by her heartbroken family. She leaves behind her husband Joe; parents Morris and Dinah Brynjolfson; mother- in-law Penny Meide; brother Danny Brynjolfson; brother and sister-in-law John and Cheri Brynjolfson with their sons Sean (20) and Ryan (17); her best friend/sister and brother-in-law Patsy and Matt Peyerl and their daughters Elizabeth (21), Katie (18) and Bryn (8). Grateful to be part of her extended family are her aunts and uncles Bernie, Fred, Pat, Dan, Dan and Mary Kay and several cousins, in addition to her life-long friends Marian, Paula, Kelley, Teresa and Sherry.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 4pm on Friday, January 20, 2023, at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck, ND. Visitation will be held Thursday, January 19, 2023, from 6:00pm to 7:00pm, with a Vigil Service and a traditional wake to celebrate Susie’s life starting at 7pm.

Susie was born on December 25, 1964, to Morris and Dinah in Minot, ND. She was a blessed gift to her parents on that Christmas day. After moving to Bismarck early in her life, Susie graduated from St. Mary’s Central High School in 1983. Upon graduation, she earned her degree in Spanish from Marquette University and then a master’s degree in Spanish from Colorado State.

Susie began teaching Spanish at Century High School in 1991 and her life’s devotion to teaching began. Susie loved her students and colleagues at Century where she proudly taught thousands of kids over 31 years and for many years was the chair of the Foreign Language Department.  Because of her experience, enthusiasm, professionalism, and reputation as a teacher, Susie served many years as a teacher’s mentor for Bismarck Public Schools.  She was recognized with the NEA Award for Teaching Excellence in 2016. Shouts of “Senora B” would echo throughout Bismarck whenever she saw her students out and about in the community. During her brief illness, the only thing that caused tears to fall from her eyes was losing the ability to teach her students.

In 1992, Susie met her companion and soulmate Joe Meide, later marrying on November 25, 2005, beginning their lifelong adventure together. Joe’s lifelong friends quickly adopted Susie as one of their own. Susie and Joe valued these friends like family. Susie loved to travel alongside Joe as they ventured to many national parks, and she led several student trips to Spanish speaking countries. Many summer days you could find them out on the river, navigating the classic car shows where Joe would show his latest remodeled vehicle, or tending to her flowers around the yard.  They were honored to be godparents to their nieces and nephews, along with their friends’ children.  Family was the most important thing to Susie.   She enjoyed family get-togethers with her Lynch and Strandemo cousins and loved watching Fighting Irish football games with her dad and family.

Susie was a second mother and champion to her “Shining Stars”: Elizabeth at Notre Dame, Sean at Cornell, Katie at NDSU, Ryan at Century High, and her “Petunia”/”Little Turkey” Bryn at Cathedral Elementary. She was so proud to cheer on her nieces and nephews in all their sports, academic activities, and accomplishments.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Glenn and Susie Brynjolfson and her maternal grandparents Dan and Agatha Mitzel.

Joe and Susie’s family would like to thank the team of doctors, nurses, and staff at Sanford Health who cared for our sweet Susie over the course of the last several weeks, and whose compassion and skill will always be remembered.

To view the funeral service, please click here 

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Rest in peace,. We will miss your beautiful soul.. ❤️

Rest in peace, Susie! May perpetual Light shine upon you and may God provide strength, peace, and comfort to your family!

Rest In Peace Susie. You were such a beautiful sweet person.

As a former student… She was the biggest advocate for me during my time in school. Her compassion and kindness were out of this world. She is the one who convinced me to get my Spanish Minor. She will forever be a person that made me a big part of who I am today. Thank you God for her and may she rest peacefully.

I am so sorry to hear about her passing. I was in her class at Century in 2009 and loved being in her class. I was always such a class clown and sometimes went over the line but she was always in high spirits and no one ever had anything bad to say about her. So kind and taught much more than Spanish.

Our prayers to Susie’s family: When you lose someone you love, you will never get over it, but with God’s help you will get through it.

Thoughts & prayers to Joe and all of Susie’s family.

My deepest sympathy to all who were touched by Susie’s life and teaching. I was able to teach mentoring classes with her through the NDTSS and enjoyed every training we did together. She is a true professional in every sense of the word. She is one of the most sincere people I have known, as she genuinely cares about everyone. She and I taught Spanish on the ITV system and would compare notes from time to time. I know her heart and soul were in teaching. May memories sustain everyone as we travel the road of grief. Heaven has added a special angel.

Even though Heaven is a happier place, we are sad to see you go. You were a blessing.

My thoughts and prayers to Susie’s family and friends. I worked at Century High. School in the office for 20 years and Susie always had a smile on her face. She was the most thoughtful and caring person I know.

Our son Josh really enjoyed Mrs. Brynjolfson in Spanish class this year. We were saddened by the news of her passing. Praying for her family.

To Susie’s family and friends, I am so very sorry for your loss. I was in her class at Century in the mid-90’s, and she was easily a favorite teacher of mine. Susie always had a sparkle in her eye and a fun story to tell. She was a wonderful soul. I can tell she will be very dearly missed. Rest in peace, Susie.

Susie my great great friend. I am so sorry to hear of your passing. My heart is so sad. I have known you many years and I will always remember the sleep overs on Christmas Vacation for our birthdays. Oh I am so so sorry. Prayers to your family.

Ken and I are so saddened to hear this. Ken said, “she was an excellent teacher and was highly respected.” I always enjoyed seeing Susie at Capital Racquet when we both went to Pilates! She had such a beautiful and receptive personality. R.I.P.

RIP! Sorry for your loss of a beautiful soul!

Rest in peace Susie, You will be missed by many. Condolences to your family.

I am so very heartbroken
to hear. Susie was truly one of the sweetest people I have ever known. I extend my heartfelt sympathies. She certainly will be a beautiful angel. Penny Wedin Gorden

I’m so sorry to your family. I was in her class at Century in the mid 90s. She was one of my favorite teachers. She made learning Spanish so much fun. She had a kind heart and a huge smile. To say the world lost an amazing teacher and person is an understatement. I’m blessed to have been able to be one of her students. Thinking of the family, friends and all who loved her during this time. R.I.P. Senorita Brynjolfson.

Ms. B! Absolutely my favorite teacher in high school in 1995-7. I loved how she said my name “Carmela”❤️ Please know the number of lives she touched and may you all find some peace at such a hard time.

Sending love to Susie and her family! She was something special. ❤️

Susie taught itv (interactive tv) Spanish classes to hundreds of students in western ND from 1992 until just a few years ago. The students in our rural schools were honored to have such a caring person and extraordinary, professional teacher. What a wonderful role model and an inspiration for those whose lives she touched. God Bless her family and friends.

I’m so terribly sad to hear of Miss B’s passing. In 1993, while attending Tuttle HS, I took Spanish from her over ITV. She was so kind and energetic. I remember celebrating Cinco de Mayo and our homework was to make food for class. My assignment was Mexican Wedding Cakes. I still have the recipe and have enjoyed making them with my own children. – My deepest sympathies. You’re all in my prayers.

Rest in peace Susie you were so loved you will truly be missed ❤️

Morris, Dinah, Matt, Patsy, and the rest of the family, may the many good memories you have help sustain you through this difficult journey. Prayers for Peace and Comfort for all of you.

Joe, my friend, so sorry to hear of the passing of your wife, Susie. My prayers are with you.

Thoughts and prayers to the family.

I met Susie in 1981 as a student in my first classes at SMCHS. The memories of her profound goodness and beautiful soul are wrapped like ribbons around my heart for as long as I live. I am privileged and honored to have learned the language of the Spanish-speaking people beside her.

I adored Susie. I had the privilege of going to Spain with her at Century High School, she was such a magical lady and so beautiful. I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. Much love to her family. xxxCasey

I went to school with Susie She was a wonderful person RIP prayers for her family and friends

Sincere sympathy to Dinah & Morris Brynjolfson and their family upon the loss of their beloved Susie. The hardest thing in life is to lose a child. Dinah and I were classmates & friends graduating
from St. Mary’s in 1960. Please know that your family is in my heart and prayers. Susie rejoices now in Heaven.

Patsy and Cheri, I’m so sorry for your families loss. She sounds like an amazing person and a beautiful soul. Hugs and prayers to you.

I am so sad to hear of Susie’s passing. She was one of the kindest people I have ever met. Hugs to her family ❤

Thoughts and prayers for Susie’s family. May God bless you and comfort you at this time.

What a beautiful vigil service for such a beautiful person. It has been such an honor to have worked with her at CHS. Her smile and laugh will be so greatly missed.

It breaks my heart to hear about Susie’s passing. It was a blessing to be one of Susie’s high school classmates, and on occasion, getting a front row seat to some of the crazy 80s high school stories Kelley D was referring to. I wouldn’t trade those much-simpler times for anything and I’m so grateful that Susie was a part of the class of 1983.
Susie always had a warm smile and was always fun to be around. The world has lost a compassionate, kind, gentle, and caring soul. My prayers go out to Susie’s family and to her SMCHS sisters, Kelley, Marian, Teresa, Sherry and Paula. I can’t think of Susie without thinking of all of you. You were all so very lucky to have such a beautiful person in your lives.

Susie was such a beautiful person! My daughters loved her as a teacher! She was a wonderful friend and colleague.

Susie B will be greatly missed and heaven has gained a beautiful angel. I graduated with her and the class of 83 will definitely never be forgotten in the halls of SMCHS! Susie reached out to me after my mom passed last year and told me how much she enjoyed working elections with her. That simple card meant so much to me! I will always remember her infectious smile and laugh. She was a gentle soul who obviously impacted the lives of many people. Condolences to the family. She will be greatly missed.

So sorry, this world lost a great one. Susie’s sly smile was always on, what a great person! RIP

Dinah, Patsy and family – I was shocked to see Susie’s smiling face in an obituary when I read the paper. I always remember her as so full of life. My love to all of you.

The pray service was beautiful!  Sending thoughts and prayers to Joe and all the family and friends.  May you find comfort and peace as you share and cherish the memories.  Rest in Peace Susie!

Blessings and prayers to everyone in the Brynjolfson family. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Eddie, Oy, Evan, & Emily Lynch
Very Sorry, Suzie was a special person.

Patsy and family I am so sorry to hear of Susie’s passing. She was such a beautiful person inside and out. Her smile lit up a room. May you have the strength to go on without her knowing one day you will be reunited again.RIP beautiful Susie❤️

What a shock to learn that she’s gone from here. I am also a Spanish teacher and worked in Bismarck schools which meant numerous professional development ‘opportunities’ together. Susie has been one of the most congenial members of our profession, a gentle, but effective leader and kind human being. May God give her family and close friends His comfort and peace now, and in the long haul.

Thoughts and prayers to you all!