Vaughn 'Flip' Bernsdorf, 59, Minot, died Tuesday, June 20, 2017, in a Minot hospital as a result of injuries sustained in a June 3rd motorcycle accident.

Flip was born May 12, 1958, in Kenmare, ND the last of six children to Howard and Darlene (Krause) Bernsdorf. He spent his childhood in the communities of Sherwood, Mohall and Minot.

Flip moved to Mohall in 1979. He worked for Burlington Northern Railroad and in the oil industry for a number of years until getting his first taste of the automotive industry at Savelkoul Ford in Mohall. He moved to Minot in 1988 working in every area of the industry from reconditioning to sales management. In August 2016, Flip fulfilled his lifelong dream of opening his own business, RPM Auto Sales.

Flip was blessed with two daughters, Jaime in 1980 and Elizabeth in 1990, from, in his own words, "Two very unsuccessful marriages." He felt the third time would be the charm and it surely was the case. Tammy was his soulmate and best friend through all of life's ups and downs. She also blessed him with her daughter, Emma.

Flip pursued with zest his lifelong passion of classic cars, classic rock, and Harley Motorcycles. He was a master mischief maker, a risk taker, and an all-around jokester. Flip loved anything with an engine and could perform small miracles with a roll of duct tape and some hose clamps. He loved his children deeply but his heart was stolen completely by his three grandchildren, Miles, Isaac and Ella. Flip will be missed by all who were blessed to share in his life, but most of all by those who knew him as a son, companion, father, grandfather and brother.

His loving family includes his soulmate and best friend, Tammy (Gates) Swenson, Fargo; daughters, Jaime (Joel) Wickard, MN, Lizz (Russ) Morris, MT and Emma Swenson, Fargo; grandchildren, Miles, Isaac and Ella; mother, Darlene Bernsdorf, Minot; siblings, Jacqueline (Robert) Field, Minot, Terry (Karen) Bernsdorf, Minot, Reon (Jackie) Bernsdorf, Minot and Carol (Ron) Boen, AZ, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Flip was preceded in death by his father, Howard, brother, Kevin, brother-in-law, Jerry Hafer, and nephews Bob Field II, and Kaden Hafer.

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 24, 2017 at Vincent United Methodist Church, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Friday, June 23, 2017, from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of flowers, there will be a college fund set up for "Papa's Knuckleheads" at United Community Bank in Minot.