Pearl Lillian Bopp

Pearl Lillian Bopp, age 97, a longtime Park Rapids, MN area resident, after suffering a devastating stroke, peacefully passed into eternal life on Monday, September 18, 2023, at the Essentia Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota with her daughters Marie and Terry by her side. 

Pearl was born on April 4, 1926, in a log house outside the Itasca State Park entrance, across from the Itasca post office to Fred and Ida (Johnson) Breitweser.  From the Park, the family later moved into Park Rapids where they operated the Breitweser Café for a few years. Their final move was to a farm West of Park Rapids where Pearl helped on the family farm.  She attended Park Rapids public school system and graduated in 1945. In 1947, she began working at the Ben Franklin store in Park Rapids where she worked on and off for the next 20 years until retirement in 1970. She was married to Glen Knight in 1951. They were blessed with a daughter Marie in 1953. In 1970 she was united in marriage to Charles Bopp. To this marriage they were blessed with a daughter Terry in 1971. Charles Passed in 1989. 

Pearl was a lifelong member of St. Johns Lutheran Church where she was baptized and confirmed.   In her later years, she helped with the church monthly newsletters. She enjoyed working with her hands, some gardening, knitting, crocheting, and some quilting.  She loved working with “word finds” and picture puzzles to keep her mind sharp. She enjoyed traveling and had her first airplane ride at the age of 70 to Hawaii.  She and Terry were known as the “road warriors”.  She was also a voracious reader and kept a record of all the books she read.  Terry had trouble finding new books for her to read from the local library.  Her goal was to reach the age of 97 and she exceeded it.

She is lovingly remembered by her two daughters: Marie Birge of Crystal, MN and Terry Bopp of Park Rapids, MN; four grandchildren: Jamey, Angela, Nicole, and Matthew; Eight Great Grandchildren: Amanda, Justin, Ashley, Destiny, Karen, Autumn, Anthony, and Winchester; Seven Great-Great Grandchildren: Audrianna, Zay’mari, Violet, A’Leeah, David, Devina, and Devontae. As well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends and two grand-pups, Lincoln and Gussie.

Pearl was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; her parents; and her siblings: Roy Breitweser, Clyde Breitweser, and Ruby Hensel.

Funeral services will be held 12 PM Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, MN.  Visitation will be held on Monday September 25, 2023, from 5 to 7 PM at the Jones Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and continuing one hour prior to service at the church on Tuesday.