Debra K. Pierson

Debra Kay (Hurdelbrink) Pierson, 75, passed away at her home on July 4, 2026, under the care of Sanford Hospice of Fargo and significant other, Jerry Eberle. 

She was born in Kenmare ND, on May 26, 1951, to Robert and Cora Hurdelbrink of Sherwood. The family moved to Leeds in 1961, where Debra attended Leeds Public School and graduated from Leeds High School in 1969. She attended the LPN Program in Wahpeton, ND, and left for California on graduation day in 1973. After living for 8 years in California, she returned to North Dakota to attend North Dakota State University while working as an LPN at Dakota Hospital and St Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing. Following graduation and earning her nursing degree, she worked as an RN at Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby, ND. There she held the positions of House Supervisor in ER, ICU, among other areas. She worked in Rugby for 15 years and worked various nursing jobs at Heartland and Merit Care hospitals in Fargo. Debra’s nursing career of 42 years included hospital and nursing home settings, agency, PRN, and travel positions in various parts of North Dakota as well as southern and northern California. 

Debra enjoyed the warmth of California and totally embraced the concert culture of California and Las Vegas. This led to many unforgettable adventurous days. She spent a brief time with the U.S. Army at Fort Dix, NJ, Fort Sam Houston, TX; Fort Benning, GA; and Fort Irvin, Mojave Desert CA. Her parents, Bob and Cora, enjoyed traveling when they had the opportunity and that is what sparked Debra’s love for traveling from 1973 to 2023. Along with her parents and sister, June, they enjoyed visiting several sights including Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Hollywood, Garden Grove, and Palm Springs. Many trips were with best friend, Shirley Pierson Burseth and her family. Debra enjoyed good times with lifelong friends, Shirley Pierson Burseth, Tex Smeltzer, Lois Jorgenson Quamme, Karen Jorgenson Meyers, and Joanne Donovan Backlund. 

Debra never left her love of music, especially R&B, Soul 60 and 70’s, Motown, and Willie’s Roadhouse. Two of her heroes are Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops and Lucas Nelson. She participated in choir at Leeds High School, Leeds Lutheran Church, and First Lutheran Church of Rugby. She was a former member of First Lutheran Church of Rugby, St. Petri Lutheran Church, rural York, Leeds Lutheran Church, and American Legion Auxiliary of York. She and special friend/fellow co-worker, Gail Krogstad, joined the Sons of Norway and spent many years volunteering at the Norsk Hostfest in Minot. They saw many entertainers over the years at the Hostfest. While living in Fargo, she enjoyed attending church at Messiah Lutheran Church. 

During retirement, she enjoyed walking, dog sitting, spending time with her kids and grandkids, and watching Forensic Files and beloved soaps, Young & the Restless and Bold & the Beautiful. She enjoyed traveling with other acquaintances to Montana, Minnesota, and Arizona. More recent memorable trips included Las Vegas, the West Coast, the South, and Napa Valley with Jerry, and a 2016 adventure to Loughlan, Lake Havasu, Tucson, and Mesa where they had passengers, Cora and Viola, along for the ride and made stops to see family and friends. 

Debra is preceded in death by her father, Robert Hurdelbrink, her great aunt Emma Hurdelbrink, grand dogs Cane Pierson and Mya Jean Broe, her first-born puppy Sam (in 1972), BFF’s Shirley Pierson Burseth (Steve) and Tex Smeltzer, and former husbands Sande (Gravel) McPherson and Samuel Lipscomb. 

Debra is survived by daughter, Emma Erie Broe (Duane), grandson Emmitt, granddaughter Amelia, of West Fargo; son, Jordan Pierson, grandsons Titan Walker (mother, Shannon) and Jagger Walker Pierson, granddaughter Jorja Pierson of Fargo; significant other Gerald (Jerry) Eberle, of Baker (she wanted people to know that she learned a lot from him – Albert Einstein the second and he took wonderful care of her); her mother, Cora Hurdelbrink, of Devils Lake; sisters, Nancy Silliman, of York, and June Kraft, of Devils Lake; niece, Jennifer Schieve, of Devils Lake; three nephews, many cousins and friends; uncle, Wayne Lunde, of Franklin, WI, and aunt, Mary Lou Hurdelbrink Martin of TX; former step-sons Samuel (Alex) Lipscomb, and Anthony Lipscomb of CA; and former husband, David Erie of Leeds. 

A Memorial Service for Debra will be held at a later date at Leeds Lutheran Church in Leeds with interment at St. Petri Lutheran Cemetery, rural York. 

 In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to: Leeds Lutheran Church (PO Box 308, Leeds, ND 58346), First Lutheran Church of Rugby (202 4th St SE, Rugby, ND 58368), and Messiah Lutheran Church (PO Box 1562, Fargo, ND 58107).

Nelson Funeral Home of Leeds, ND and West Funeral Home in West Fargo are in charge of the arrangements.

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