Gayle Augusta Birkeland

Gayle Augusta Birkeland, age 88, passed away Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Villa St. Vincent, surrounded by her family. She was born in Inkster, North Dakota on April 10, 1937, to loving parents LeRoy and Beulah (Ulvedal) Nelson.

She was a woman well-travelled, in her own right, calling many places home over the years. Living in Crookston, MN, Union Lake, MN, and Grand Forks, ND. Gayle graduated from Grand Forks Central High School in 1955, and the next year she was married to her best friend and love of her life, Jerome Birkeland, at United Lutheran Church in Grand Forks. While in high school, Gayle began working at the First National Bank in 1953. She was dedicated to her work, starting as a teller in Grand Forks, then working her way up to loan officer, both at First National Bank and later at Bremer, before retiring after 38 years in banking.

Gayle was a woman of many talents. Her favorite hobbies included ceramics, making desserts, shopping, and she always had time for lemonade breaks while working, she also never gave up a chance to tell Jerome what to do! Her most favorite pastime was spending time at the lake with her family, enjoying time with her grandchildren.

Gayle is survived by her two daughters, Susan Brown of Cottage Grove, MN, Nancy (Bernard) Perreault of Crookston, MN; seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren: Jeremy (Tiffany) Birkeland and Kylie and Colton; Jon (Amanda) Perreault; Joshua (Jodi) Birkeland and Katelyn, Lillyan, Madyson, and Aurora; Jason (Dana) Perreault and Trinity and Lincoln; James (Katie) Perreault and Ally, Emma, and Odin; Jennifer Perreault; and Joseph (Jenni) Perreault and Mosley and Noah; siblings, Maureen (Ordean) Jacobson of Fargo, ND, and Tom Nelson of Redmond, OR; sisters-in-law, Joy Nelson of Bend, OR, and Cathy Nelson of North Oaks, MN; brother-in-law, Gino Gasparine of Grand Forks, ND, and other beloved family and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jerome Birkeland; her parents, LeRoy and Beulah Nelson; parents-in-law Niles (Hazel) Birkeland; sisters, Jo (Jim) Dunn, and Tootsie Gasparini; brothers, Donald Nelson, and Gary Nelson; son-in-law, Dale Brown; nephew, Bruce Tweten; brother-in-law, Russ Tweten; and other beloved extended family.

Special thanks to the Villa St. Vincent, and Hospice of the Red River Valley for the comfort and good care they provided.

A funeral service to honor Gayle’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston, MN, officiated by Pastor Greg Isaacson. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service, with lunch to follow after the service.