Mary Jane Bjornstad

Mary Jane Bjornstad, beloved mother, grandmother and wife, passed away while surrounded by her children Monday, February 10, 2025, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND, after her courageous battle with cancer. Memorial service will be held Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Askew Funeral Home in Cavalier followed by a luncheon at the E-Free church at 1:00 p.m.

Mary was born July 2,1965 in Robstown, TX to Pedro and Juanita (Luna) Hernandez. She graduated from Robstown High and further pursued her education at Del-Mar College in Corpus Christi, TX to become a certified nursing assistant. She worked as a CNA for most of her life. When she moved to North Dakota, she continued her career she always loved. 

In 2001, she met Manuel (Bunyan) Perez and moved to Bathgate/Cavalier where they raised her kids and shared many years together until his passing in 2009. 

On August 23, 2014, she married Rocky Bjornstad in Walhalla, ND. Together they enjoyed playing bingo, thrift shopping, watching her sci fi movies and gameshows, and spending time with the grandkids. Her favorite thing to do was to have family gatherings, listen to music all together and reminisce about past memories. Everywhere she went she’d make friends with her beautiful smile and golden heart. She was always willing to help anyone whenever they needed her. 

If you were to have asked her what her greatest accomplishment in life was, she would have simply said being a mother and being a grandmother.

Mary is survived by her husband Rocky Bjornstad; her five children: Rosendo Lopez Jr, Stephanie (Marco) Dominguez, Patsy Lopez (Devin Weltz), Rebecca Lopez (Casey Paulson), Monica Lopez (Christopher Andrews); her grandchildren: Brandie, Rosendo III, Abigail, Raymond, Gissele, Conner, Avarie, Hazel, Emileo, Graven, Damon, Haven, Elliot, Gabriel, Isabella, Hudson, Evrett, Emerson, Luna. Her parents: Pedro and Juanita Hernandez; her siblings: Rey Hernandez, Angelita Sanchez, Rosie Escareno, Linda Herrera, Sandra Silva, and Pepe Hernandez

She is preceded in death by her twin brother, Joe Hernandez; her children’s father, Rosendo Lopez; her children’s stepfather, Manuel Perez