Hopewell, Verna Mae (Skarsten) Age 81 of Plymouth, MN passed away on April 7, 2018 at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, MN. Verna Mae Skarsten, daughter of Clifford and Ellen (Pederson) Skarsten was born on Easter Sunday March 28, 1937 in Minneapolis, MN. She was the "middle" sister of three girls and shared her life with siblings Corrine Smith, Kaye Schneider and brother Lynn Skarsten. She grew up in Benson, MN. She graduated from Benson High School in 1955, where she was known for her beautiful singing voice, natural intellect, great sense of fun and easy-going nature. She attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls earning an associate's degree in education. She spent a year teaching K-12 in a one room schoolhouse. She married fellow Augustana student Richard Hope-well in October 1958. She raised her family and later worked as a legal secretary in Sioux Falls, SD and Minneapolis. Grateful for having shared her life are her loving partner of 22 years, Douglas Lund and her four children Deborah Hopewell, Lisa Hopewell Holler, Eric Hopewell, Marc Hopewell and ten grandchildren Patrick Holler, Michael Anderson, Inga Thomas, Sam Hopewell, Adam Holler, Cody Hopewell, Tyler Hopewell, Spencer Hopewell, Olivia Hopewell and Dallas Hopewell. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Ellen, brother Kenny Skarsten and husband Richard Hopewell. A memorial service will be held at the Cremation Society of Minnesota on Friday, May 11 from 2:00-5:00 PM. Interment will be at a later date. Please consider memorials to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.

Published on May 6, 2018