Brittany Nakamura

Honolulu, Hawaii

Brittany Autumn Nakamura (nee Johnston), age 39, passed away on March 28, 2026, at home in Honolulu, Hawaii, surrounded by her loved ones, after a courageous two and half year battle with cancer.

Brittany was born on September 23, 1986, in Minot, North Dakota, to Joan (Rubbelke) Nelson and Clifford Johnston. From an early age, she carried a warmth, strength, and compassion that would come to define her life and the way she cared for others.

A devoted Christian, Brittany’s faith in Jesus was a guiding force throughout her life. She live her faith through her love, her resilience, and her deep commitment to her family and community.

Brittany graduated from Minot High School in 2005, where she was an active member of the varsity swim team. Swimming and being in the water were passions that stayed with her, eventually becoming a central part of her life in Hawaii through paddling at the Outrigger Canoe Club, where she found both joy on the water and a deep sense of community.

Brittany attended the University of NOrth Dakota, graduating in 2010 with a degree in Dietetics. During her time there, she was deeply engaged in student life-participating in student leadership, helping lead and contribute to Colleges Against Cancer, Relay for Life, and Emerging Leaders, teaching spin classes, and actively investing in both the university and broader community. She was known for her energy, her drive, and her desire to make a positive impact on those around her.

She began her career in Jamestown, North Dakota, where she served as a Clinical Dietitian and later as Manager of Nutrition Services and Dietetics at Jamestown Regional Medical Center. During her time in Jamestown, she also served as a swim coach with Jamestown Public Schools, sharing her love of swimming and mentoring young athletes. In all of her roles, she brought compassion, leadership, and a genuine care for others.

In 2015, Brittany moved to Hawaii to pursue her MBA at the University of Hawaii, graduating in 2017. During this time, she also worked as a Clinical Dietitian at Straub Hospital and Clinic, and later served as Director of Food and Nutrition at Pali Momi Medical Center, where she led the department with dedication and care for both her patients and her team.

Brittany’s passion for helping others extended beyond her professional life. She volunteered as a counselor at Camp GoodTimes, a summer camp for children with cancer, where she helped create joyful and meaningful experiences for kids facing incredibly difficult circumstances. This work reflected the depth of her compassion–giving her time and heart to those in need years before facing her own diagnosis.

While in Honolulu, Brittany met the love of her life, Cory Nakamura. They were married on June 1, 2019, and build a beautiful life together centered on faith, family, and community. Shortly after their wedding, Brittany and Cory honeymooned in Italy, a trip they both cherished deeply and often reflected on as one of their most loved shared experiences.

Brittany and Cory were blessed with two children, Mahina Rose Aki and Lincoln Otto Kala Nakamura, who were the center of Brittany’s world. She embraced motherhood with deep love, intention, and devotion, creating a life filled with warmth, guidance, and unwavering support for her children.

Brittany loved returning home to North Dakota to spend time with family and lifelong friends. She cherished time with her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and extended family, holding those connections close throughout her life. Some of her most treasured moments were spent at Lake Sakakawea, surrounded by those she loved most, creating lasting memories filled with laughter, connection, and joy.

Even in the midst of her illness, Brittan remained steadfast in her devotion to her family. She continued to prioritize time together, bringing her family back to North Dakota, ensuring holidays were celebrated to their fullest, and staying deeply present in her children’s lives. She spent every moment she could with Mahina, Lincoln, and Cory–always placing them at the center of her world.

Brittany showed remarkable strength and grace, remaining present, loving, and deeply connected to those around her, continuing to pour herself into her family and her faith throughout her journey.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Brittany is survived by her husband, Cory Nakamura, and their children, Mahina Rose Aki and Lincoln Otto Kala Nakamura, all of Honolulu, Hawaii; her parents, Joan and David Nelson of Minot and Clifford Johnston of Carpio; her sister, Amber Johnston of Minot; her brother, Ryan Johsnton of Portland, Oregon; her brother, Shawn Johnston of Minot; her numerous nieces and nephews; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins who will carry her memory forward with love.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents and her beloved Uncle Ross and Aunt Beth.

A celebration of Brittany’s life will be held on Saturday, May 2, at the Sleep Inn, in Minot, ND from 3-7 p.m.

Published by The Minot Daily News, April 17, 2026.