Nicole Amy Peterson, 43, West Fargo, N.D., died peacefully on July 16, 2021 in her home surrounded by family after a 20-year battle with a brain tumor.

Nikki was born on April 6, 1978 in Fargo, N.D. She grew up in West Fargo, graduated from West Fargo High School in 1996, Concordia College (MN) in 2000 and got her Masters from North Dakota State University in 2015. During her first 2 years teaching in Henning, Nikki met her husband, Trevor Peterson of Fargo, N.D. She moved back to West Fargo in 2002 where she started teaching at West Fargo High School.  Trevor and Nikki were married in 2003 and have lived in West Fargo since 2004. They have twin girls, Braelyn and Camryn. Nikki taught Physical Education and Dance at WFHS for 18 years before retiring due to health reasons in September 2020.

Nikki discovered a love for basketball and volleyball at an early age, and excelled at both. In the second half of her life, she also became a lover of flowers and plants. But her biggest passion became dancing and teaching dance. She was an excellent salsa dancer, and proficient in many other styles as well, including swing, ballroom and Zumba. She loved sharing her love of dance with her students and watching their self esteem and confidence grow through her dance classes. Her passion and dedication for teaching, students, and dancing was reflected in her being named 2018-2019 West Fargo Public Schools Teacher of the Year and 2019 SHAPE America National Dance Education Teacher of the Year. In March, Nikki was inducted into the West Fargo High School Hall of Fame as an Educator. Most of all, though, Nikki had an extreme love for her family. One of her favorite things was simply getting together with her family to visit, eat, share stories and laugh.

Nikki is survived by her husband, Trevor, and daughters Braelyn and Camryn; her parents, Richard Vetter and Mary Vetter; sisters Angie Vetter and Emily Vetter, sister Chrissy (Vetter) Wingert and brother-in-law Ed, nephews Noah, Quincy and Dexter; father and mother-in-law Ray and Vicki Peterson; sister and brother-in-law Jaime (Peterson) and Kris Dougherty, nephew Kellen and niece Zelia.

Memorials in honor of Nikki can be sent to the Nicole Peterson Benefit Account, Bell Bank, 5050 13th Ave SW, Fargo, ND 58103, to benefit her daughters, Braelyn and Camryn.

Visitation: Wednesday, July 21, 2021 from 6:45 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Cross, West Fargo, ND. 

Prayer Service: Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Cross, West Fargo, N.D.

Memorial Service: Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 10 a.m. at Lutheran Church of the Cross, West Fargo, N.D.