Verdel Veronica (Stroh) Hopfauf, age 80, Bismarck, ND, passed away August 29, 2026 at home surrounded by her loving family.

Verdel was the youngest of five children born to Frank and Emma Stroh (Dworshak). She graduated from Mandan Senior High School in 1964. In 1965, she married the love of her life, Ronald Hopfauf at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mandan, ND. They had two children together, Craig and DeAnn.

Verdel’s life must be explained in 2 parts -her life before Multiple Sclerosis, and after her diagnosis in 1988. Prior to MS, she was a stay-at-home mom, a military wife, and held various part-time jobs such as selling Tupperware and Herbalife as well as running her own in-home daycare. She was active in bowling, softball, loved to dance, and adored evening walks with her husband.

Her MS diagnosis slowed her down physically, but she still loved to gather with friends and family whenever possible for visiting, laughing, singing, playing cards and games, and eating good food. She was the most genuine friend to everyone she met. She had a way of making you feel special. She loved hugs, long visits, and generally sharing joy wherever it was. She especially loved holidays where she was able to “spoil” her children and grandchildren with gifts and festivities. Despite her declining abilities, she found new purpose in creating scrapbooks and personalized birthday cards, as well as digitizing decades of photos from her and Ron’s life together. Even once she was wheelchair-bound, her caring husband and her deep Catholic faith allowed her to endure despite the pain and frustration of a degenerative, lifelong illness.

Verdel is survived by her husband Ron; her children Craig and DeAnn; sister Jan Jenner, brother Richard Stroh; grandchildren Lacey Keller, Brandon Kidwell, Amber Kidwell, Spencer Hopfauf, Jordan Kidwell, Alexis Kidwell and Miranda Hopfauf; great-grandchildren Daizee, Amarrah and Estelle; as well as numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Emma Stroh, sister Elaine Volk, brother Ronnie Stroh, mother and father-in-law Anton and Frances Hopfauf, brother-in-law Gerald (Chad) Hopfauf, sister-in-law Maxine McClinn, and grandson Ian Hopfauf.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Visitation at Eastgate Funeral Home in Bismarck on Wednesday, September 2nd starting at 5pm with Holy Rosary/Vigil at 7pm.

Mass of Christian Burial at Church of Corpus Christi in Bismarck at 10am Thursday September 3 with fellowship to follow. To view the church livestream, click the link provided ~ Verdel.

Burial Friday September 4 at 11am at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery, Mandan.

The family wishes instead of flowers please make a donation in Verdel’s name to the MS Society, ND Veterans Cemetery, or your favorite charity.