Muriel Pope

Muriel E. Pope 87, Wahpeton, ND, died on Thursday, November 26, 2015 at St. Catherine's Living Center, Wahpeton, ND. The Funeral Mass will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 1, at St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton. Visitation will be Monday, at Willow Creek Chapel, Wahpeton, from 5 PM to 7 PM with a 7 PM Prayer Vigil and one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday, with a 10:00 a.m. Rosary. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Wahpeton, at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted with Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.

Muriel Elaine Nelson was born on January 17, 1928 in Drake, ND to Einar and Myrtle Nelson. She was raised in Drake and graduated as Salutatorian of Drake High School. She graduated from the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton and was Homecoming Queen during her sophomore year.
She married Eugene James Pope on August 28, 1948 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fargo, ND. Muriel was the home anchor for the Pope Family; because of Gene's job they moved numerous times, one of these stations being a four year stay in India. Gene passed away July 20, 2000; Muriel continued to live in the Wahpeton-Breckenridge area.

Muriel was an active member of St. John's Catholic Church in Wahpeton and participated in the choir for many years.

Muriel is survived by her children: Randall (Joan) Pope of Wahpeton, ND; Deborah (David) Starbuck of Kaneohe, HI; Doug (Lynn) Pope of Greenfield, WI; Steve (Janet) Pope of N. Potomac, MD; Gene Pope Jr. (Polly) of Overland Park, KS and Dan Pope of Duluth, MN; sisters: Evelyn Lind of Seal Beach, CA and Beverley (Harvey) McMahon of Fargo, ND. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Einar and Myrtle Nelson, her husband Eugene, sisters Thora Willey, Lorraine Ringen, and three brothers.