Nita Christine Bjerke passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026. She was 71 years young.

Born in St. Cloud, MN, on November 12, 1954, Nita grew up in Savage, where her childhood was filled with modest joys. She spent her days playing in the dirt with her friend Stacy, turning ordinary rocks into imaginary people, hunting for agates to polish and then giving them to her mom to place in her planter. Some of her most cherished moments were the simple ones; laughing in the basement with her sisters and brothers or walking into town to the drugstore to get candy with her sisters; Kathleen, Monica and Anne. Whether she was ice skating on the creek, roller skating with Carla and her sister Nina, or dancing to polka at Schlief’s Little City, Nita’s early years were defined by fun and family.

A 1972 graduate of Burnsville High School, she went on to work for Emergency Physicians Professional Associations (EPPA) from 1974 to 2001, starting off in data entry and filing and eventually becoming the nighttime collections manager. She then went on to work for Midwest Urology. Her goals were simple, to be successful in her career and raise a family.

She met her husband, Greg, in 1974, at her family home when he was invited over by her mother, Alice, to play baseball. Greg and Nita were married on April 26, 1976, by Helen Kennedy in Eagan, MN.

Nita found joy in quiet moments, from working on puzzles, to watching romantic movies. From her steady morning chats with Shelley and Greg, Jr. to sharing special rituals, such as tuning in to The Masked Singer with Beth or admiring Christy’s long hair and giving her hair cuts.

Above all, Nita lived for family; she cherished the holidays, embraced any excuse to gather everyone together, and truly treasured every second spent with her children and grandchildren. Nita possessed an infectious laugh that could often draw everyone around her into the moment. Her quick-witted, sarcastic sense of humor was a signature trait, making her a delight to be around and earning her the affection of everyone who knew her. She was the “Boss”.

Nita and Greg thrived on adventure, hauling a 28-foot RV across the country with four restless children in tow. Whether they were headed to Florida, California, or the Dakotas, Nita made sure every trip included a bit of "roadside education." Some of her favorite memories were made camping in the Black Hills and gazing at the Grand Canyon. When she wasn't exploring, she was lost in her favorite music; Celine Dion, Elvis, and especially Michael Bolton, whom she once met in person.

Nita will be deeply missed by her family, her children; Shelley (Eric), Christy (Blake), Gregory, Jr. (Patricia), and Lizabeth (Mike), grandchildren; Alex, Cameron, Aysia, Thabiso, and Tegan.  Her siblings; Kathleen (Bob) Wacker, Maureen Carriveau, Anne (Pat) Wallin, Monica Houle, Keith (Linda) Hahn, Nina (Greg) Snyder, Mary (Wayne) Winkels, and John (Melissa) Hahn as well as several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Greg, her grandson, Raiden, and her parents, Leander and Alice Hahn.

Services for Nita will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, April 24th at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7110 France Avenue South, Edina, MN 55435. Visitation will be from 10:30 am to 11:00 am. Please join the family for a luncheon immediately following the service.