Mitchell R. Bricker
January 28, 1974 ~ November 6, 2020
Mitch's Live Streamed Funeral Service can be viewed below starting on Monday at 9:45 A.M.:
Mitchell Ryan Bricker, 46, Horace, ND, passed away on Friday, November 6th after a short, unexpected health battle at Essentia Health. He was always the life of the party and the world is a little dimmer without his light.
Mitch was born on January 28, 1974 in Lewistown, Montana to Don and Patty Bricker. Growing up his favorite place to be was on the farm with his father. Harvest was the time of year he looked forward to most. Until the end, he had a farmer’s spirit and always wished to have those times once again. As he grew up, he became active in Boy Scouts, 4-H, FFA and Band. He had many stories of 4-H and FFA adventures with his sister, Jennifer. He was also an Eagle Scout and never forgot to remind us of that when it was time to light a campfire. In high school he did a stand-up routine for his friends and family which he called “When Your Mom’s a Nurse… You Can’t Get Away With Anything.” He loved going to the hospital to watch his mom work, the last time he did that he was 30 years old. He told his mom that she reminded him of the nurse on Big Bang Theory. He was a very talented musician. He played music by ear before he could even read and sang his first solo in 3rd grade. He was never nervous about performing.
After he graduated, he pursued a degree in Saxophone Performance at Northwestern College (Powell, WY) and then transferred to the University of Denver School of Music, which at that time only accepted 6 saxophonists a year. The whole family went to his Junior Recital, including his grandma Johanna. She was so very proud of him. He spent time performing with bands in the Denver area and went on tour with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. When his time on the tour was up, he moved to Las Vegas and spent several years as part of the house band at Mandalay Bay, along with playing in other bands throughout the area. He then moved to California and ended up working for Blizzard Entertainment. One of the major highlights for him was being part of the team when the initial World of Warcraft game came out and his name is in the credits.
Mitch moved to Fargo in 2006 to be closer to his family. Soon after he met his future wife, Bobbi. She introduced him to her circle of friends who played poker on Friday nights, they soon became some of his closest friends. He looked forward to every Friday night because he said he finally felt like he “belonged.” Mitch and Bobbi were married on August 15, 2009. Their first son Blake August was born on January 6th, 2011. Becoming a father was a life changer for Mitch. He never knew he could love so much, and Blake became the center of his world. One day when Mitch was driving to get his beloved Starbucks, he saw two little boys walking to the bus and one of them slipped and fell on ice. The older brother helped the younger one up. At that point he knew that Blake needed a sibling. Jordan Paul joined the family on October 4, 2013. Those two boys lit up his days and he looked forward to opportunities to teach them about music and fishing. Mitch never lost his love of music and took every opportunity he could to teach them about his favorites (Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin, Michael Jackson, Tower of Power, Rush, Weird Al, and more.) The Bricker boys have eclectic Spotify playlists for 7 and 9 year old boys. He never missed an opportunity to love on them and especially loved evening dog piles and wresting in the living room.
While Mitch was in Fargo, he worked for VMC Consulting for over 10 years, and currently was working for Cognosante. His two work families resulted in strong relationships that extended outside of work. The family has received an outpouring of love and support from so many that he’s worked with though the years.
He is survived by his wife, Bobbi (Knell) Bricker; sons, Blake and Jordan Bricker; parents, Don and Patty Bricker; sister, Jennifer Shipp; and 6 nieces and 6 nephews. His nephew Tysen and niece Kaitlyn held a very special place in his heart and he always wished he spent more time with them when they were younger, when he was travelling as a musician. Mitch was proceeded in death by his grandmother, Johanna Bricker; great grandmother, Jessie Riggs; and uncle Herbert Kjersem.
Mitch's Video Tribute can be viewed below:
All my love to the entire Bricker family.
Bobbi,
I am greatly sorry for your loss! Prayers be with you and your family during this tragic time. May Mitch be at peace and find happiness with the Lord almighty. May the Lord watch over you and the boys and give you strength to carry on and live a life which Mitch would have wanted for you!
Prayers for you all!!!
Our lives were blessed and brighten when we met Mitch, Bobbi and their children at the lake. We will miss his humor.
My condolences on the loss of your husband, father, son, brother, uncle.
I met Mitch when he took over the VMC SharePoint team around 2008. We did not see eye to eye on a lot of things and seemed to chafe against each other at any chance we got. I probably would have left VMC if not for the economic downturn.
I don’t know how and I don’t know why, but when I left at the end of 2009 I really enjoyed working with him. I learned a lot from him. A job isn’t always as simple as showing up and doing the work. Sometimes the people you work with can hold up a mirror and make you look at yourself in a different way. Mitch did that for me. I hope on some level I was able to do that for him as well.
The last time I talked to him in person was 2012. It was a great conversation that had nothing to do with work and everything to do with the people that make work worth it. I’m glad we parted ways on a high note. It was worth it.
Mitch was worth it.
-Matt
So sorry for your loss, sending hugs and prayers….
So sorry to hear of Mitch’s passing! We have fond memories of his joy and enthusiasm as well as his talents. He was such a nice young man we would have loved to know him as an adult. I know he will be greatly missed. You are all in our prayers.
What a beautiful tribute. He will be missed beyond words.
Bobbi and family: We will be thinking of all of you and sending our love your way.
There are no words. Our love, thoughts, and prayers are with your family. God speed, Mitch🙏
My heart is with all of you and I’m giving you hugs. Please tell him I loved him and I hope to “float the creek” with him if I’m lucky enough to get to heaven. 🙂
Praying for the whole Bricker family that you will feel God’s loving arms around you. We will always remember Mitch’s saxaphone solo during his high school graduation band performance. Pastor Mahlen and Karen
Sending love and sympathy to you, Bobbi and your beautiful boys and extended family. Mitch is gone too soon, but his light will live on thru all of you. What a blessing he was to so many. Even in his short time here on earth, he has left his mark and made a difference in this world.
I remember the day when this new kid joined our Friday poker nights!! Mitch was good at taking my money!!! He has a true poker face!! Then i moved to Florida in 08..would come back for visits and join them on Friday when i was in town and that’s when i met their 1st son at a game in 2011! It was always fun to catch up and watch their family expand! Now as i reside in Florida im very saddened by his passing! I pray he will be Bobbi and the boys guardian angel 😇 🙏 💙 ❤ xoxo
Dear Bobbi and family,
Please accept my deepest sympathy. What amazing tributes to your husband, friend, and father of your beautiful boys! Seeing your fun photos thoughout the years on FB, I could see the great joy that Mitch had in life. What a wonderful gift to you and your boys! Treasure the memories. Prayers for you all.
Amy Fuglestad
Bobbi and the entire family, We are so sorry to hear of Mitch’s passing. We are all thinking of you and your family, including Aunt Arlys and Uncle Gerald.
Our prayers are with you and your family, Bobbi. Wish we could be there for you.. Ruth, Marvin and family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I am so sorry for your loss. Mitch was a great guy. He took me to my Junior Prom. I didn’t want to go. It had a been rough year for me. But it was Mitch and as always when you were with him it was a great time. He was kind and good even in the teenage years. The world has lost a light that made it a better place.
We can’t tell you how saddened we were to hear about Mitch. We enjoyed our friendship with him. He was so friendly and nice. He always had a smile on his face. He loved to visit. We will miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with all his loved ones. Diane Jahner and Scott Erickson.
Dear Bobbi, Blake and Jordan,
Your Horace School family is sending you love and light as you grieve this tremendous loss. Your dad/husband was always so proud of you. I remember how much it meant to him when Blake called him as his bucket filler prize last year. He was so thankful for the positive call and it meant so much to him that it brought tears to his eyes. He had a twinkle in his eyes when he talked about all of you.
He will always be with you in your hearts, and it will be important to always remember that.
May you be surrounded by family and friends who will lift you up.
All of our love,
Horace Elementary Staff
Bobbie Blake and Jordan- May you be comforted with memories, God’s promise, support and each other. Mitch was a staple at bonfires and happy hours (maybe not prime time but always there to come and see Jeremy who couldn’t get away. Thank you for enriching our lives.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
We are so sorry for your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Wish we could be there to give you hugs and love. May Gods love enfold you and give you comfort. We are so sorry.
He was a delight to work with. He always brought a very positive and fun energy to every meeting. He will be missed.
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers during this time.
So sorry for your loss. my prayers are ith you and your family.
Getting to meet Mitch in person was one of the highlights of my trip back east. He was one of the nicest guys I have met. Smart and engaging, his love for his family shone through in our conversations. I was looking forward to the opportunity of spending time with him again. I am very sorry for your loss. He was very loved and will be greatly missed.
Bricker Family –
I cannot fathom the heaviness you are experiencing right now. Mitch was both my husband and my boss at VMC from 2014 – 2018. I remember he would ALWAYS come in with his shorts, socks, and sandals without fail every day (unless the snow was absolutely too high). He was always a people person, and would always brighten a room (even if you may have been having a bad day from work itself).
He will be missed greatly and our hearts, thoughts, and MANY prayers are going to you and your family.
The Villareal’s
(Josh & Brittany)
May! your soul rest in peace.
I had the pleasure of working with Mitch. Such a great man! Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your boys and entire family as you all navigate this very difficult time.
My heart breaks for you Bobbie and the boys. Please know we are here for you if you need anything. Prayers and hugs!
Sending all my love to Bobbi, the boys, and the entire family of Mitch! I am on Mitch’s team at Cognosante and I am just shattered at the loss of such a great man. I will continue to pray for you as time goes on, and will honor Mitch forever. His spirit will never be forgotten.
My husband Chris and I send our thoughts and prayers for God to continue to be with you and provide you comfort in Mitch’s loss. Thank you for letting us share in your family’s service today. Our family unexpectedly lost my uncle when he was 52, I wish you love and hope your difficult journey.
My deepest sympathy to Mitch’s family, loved ones, friend and co-workers. I will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers.
We will miss you Mitch. You’ve been a great friend over the past 8 years. I remember when you first got your lake camper and boat, and how happy you were to be able to provide that experience for your family. Visiting your place is what convinced my family to do the same thing and you were 100% right about how great it is. I hope you’re enjoying a cold beer on a lake somewhere, and watching over your kids and Bobbi. Thanks so much for all of the good times, we will cherish your memory.
Thoughts ad prayers to you and the boys. May God’s wisdom and loving hand guide you through these difficult days. Keep the memory of Mitch alive forever.
Your lake friends, John and Laurie Nicholson
Thoughts and prayers with you and your boys. I worked with Mitch through Microsoft/VMC partnership for many years. I loved working with Mitch and appreciated my time with him. We always had some good laughs every time we met. He loved his boys and Bobbi. He was very proud of them and spoke of his family often.
I am sorry for your loss Bricker family. 🙁
I had the pleasure of working with Mitch as my manager for a time at VMC; easily one of the best people I’ve worked for. His attitude was amazing; he always seemed happy and full of life. I’m glad I got to know him and learn from him.
My heart goes out to all of you. Mitch was such a genuine and loving person with a great big heart, he will be missed greatly. I’m sure the boys will carry on some of his humor, kindness and love. I will pray and keep you all in my thought as I know this will continue to be difficult for quite some time. Remember the good and happy times you were all able to spend together. Memories are forever.
My condolences on your loss.
I knew Mitch from my time working at VMC. One memory that I have that I do constantly go back to is when he was coaching me about my use of vernacular in my emails. I had a bad habit of using “we” instead of “I” when sending emails to our customers which gave the wrong impression to our customers.
He really did have my back in a lot of situations and really helped me through some difficult times. His influence on my life has really shaped my professional life and I will forever be grateful to him and his leadership for it.
Mitch will truly be missed. He was an amazing co-worker.
Sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
We are so sorry to hear of the loss of Mitch. We are lifting your family up in our thoughts and prayers. Please let us know if you need anything.
Please give Jordan a big hug from his YMCA family!
Very nice memorial service in honor of Mitch. It gave me an insight into what a great person he was and how much he meant to his family. He did more in his shortened life than many. My sympathies to you and your family.
Bonnie and I are so sorry about your loss. We are keeping you in our thoughts snd prayers! Dan
Mitch was always the voice of reason in our saxophone quartet at the University of Denver. The group was called the REED COLLECTIVE, and we enjoyed trying to play the difficult music of Itcy Fingers. This group practiced well beyond the required number of hours required for the class, as we really enjoyed learning to play this music. The group played around Denver for various events. Mitch was the rock-solid bottom to the group. Mike Mower, bari player for Itch Fingers, was a difficult act to follow, but Mitch did a great job. Eventually, THE REED COLLECTIVE started to record in a Denver HS that had a studio. This was a great learning experience for everyone, and it gave us some good recordings of our favorite tunes. Mitch made these many hours together FUN, and always had a great joke to break up the tediousness of hammering away at difficult music.
I recently spoke to Mitch after many years to see what he had been up to over the last decade or so. I told him that I was proud of his Glenn Miller accomplishment, and did not even know about the Vegas work. Ironically, he played down his accomplishments only to innumerate all of mine. It saddens me to hear this news, someone taken way too early from us. I will always remember Mitch’s personality and zeal for life. Prayers go out to his family.
We are so sorry to hear of Mitch’s passing. He was such a nice young man and our family loved having him in our home as the “fun sitter” for our boys when they were little. He was outstanding in many ways and we are certain he is now a lead player in God’s heavenly band! Rest In Peace Mitch. Our condolences to everyone in the Bricker family.
Diane & Jon Oldenburg, Lewistown MT
I only knew Mitch as a student and I loved how he cultivated his talent while being so cool, calm and collected. Hugs and love to the Bricker family. My heart aches for all who loved him.
There are no adequate words in times like this😞May comforting angels surround you and the boys in the coming days. Always enjoyed visits with you guys!! You are in our thoughts and prayers✝️ Leo and Diane Murr
We are so sorry to hear of Mitch’s passing. We have great memories of Mitch as a student in our son’s class at Moore and as a Boy Scout in the Moore BSA Troop 350. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
So sorry to hear of Mitchells passing. I am a family friend of Jim Kjersem. Attended school in Moore and knew the family.
Dear Bobbie and family my thoughts and prayers for you all. Seems like the best always leave to early.
To the Bricker family, Patty, Don I cannot fathom the loss of a child. In these unprecedented times family stress can be twice as hard. I hope you all can cope with these times in the losses.
It was hard to deal with my fathers passing. But I now that he’s with me. I will love him always.
-Blake, son of Mitch.