Vernon Opstedal
July 1, 1942-Jan. 4, 2026
Rugby
Vernon Stanley Opstedal was born on July 1th (as Vernon said), 1942 to Stanley and Clarice (Ellingson) Opstedal in Rugby, North Dakota. He died on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at Trinity Hospital in Minot, North Dakota.
Vernon grew up and was raised on the farm, north of Rugby in Rolette County. He attended Finnegan Township Dewey School #2 through the 8th grade. He then went to Rugby High School, graduating the class of 1960. Being raised on the family farm, cattle and farming was in his blood and what he knew. After he completed his education, he went to work on the farm. On February 11, 1977, he was united in marriage to Christy Beth Kinney at the Ox Creek Lutheran Church in rural Rolette. The couple welcomed their first child in 1977, a son, Corey Allen, who passed away as an infant. In January 1979, they welcomed a daughter, Denise Dawn and in March of 1982 a second son, Craig Vernon. The couple made their home and raised their family on the family farm. Vernon raised milk cows until 1979 then he switched to beef cattle. The farm/ranch was his life and he loved everything about it. He also drove a milk truck and surveyed land for a short time. Vernon drove a bus for Rugby School and also traveled for the Hageness boys to drive the new buses back to Rugby and Rolette. He loved his family and was proud of his children. In 2009, he was a proud grandpa to Parker Blaine Fritel and he welcomed June Boettcher as his granddaughter, when Craig and Randi started dating.
In his leisure time, he loved to play pool and was always known as ‘Pinky’, enjoyed roller skating, ice skating and dancing in his early years. He enjoyed getting together to play cards and was always up for visiting with anyone who would stop by or anyone he ran into who would have a conversation with him, all with a smile on his face. Some would say, he could talk to a fence post and he enjoyed talking to his cows, so they knew who he was. After Chris passed away in 2012, Vernon eventually moved to Rugby. He met Connie Thompson and the two of them enjoyed traveling, visiting with friends and each other’s company. When they were in Arizona, they enjoyed going out and dancing the Polka and Waltz. He was a man full of character, who was always happy, had a smile on his face with a twinkle in his eye and an infectious chuckle. He lived a blessed life and will be missed by all who knew him.
Those who are left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Denise (Blaine) Fritel and their son, Parker of Minot; his son, Craig (Randi Boettcher) Opstedal and her daughter, June of Rolette; companion, Connie Thompson of Rugby; sisters, Carol Massine of Cedar Hill, Texas, Beverly Pederson of Towner and Alvera (Chuck) Emery of Minot; brothers-in-law, Jay Gangl of Hazen and Neil Kinney of Mineral Wells, Texas; sisters-in-law, Tina Gangl of Starkweather, Vickie Gangl of Bottineau, Sheila (Doug) Monson of Bottineau and Michelle Gangl of Moorehead; many nieces, nephews; great and great-great nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Christy and son, Corey; parents, Clarice and Stanley; parents-in-law, Ralph and Lila Gangl; brothers-in-law, John Gangl, Frank Massine, Leonard Pederson and Wayne Sabo and nephew, Phillip Massine.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 16 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rugby with lunch and fellowship to follow at the church. Pastor Christopher Neuendorf, Clergy. Burial will be in the spring at Persilla Watts Cemetery in Rugby.
Visitation will be on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby.
Organist: Dianne Montonye
Casket Bearers: Cody Monson, Parker Fritel, Myron Schmaltz, Steve Pederson, John Carlson & Michael Biberdorf
Honorary Bearers: Billy Biberdorf, Joey Mattern, Dennis Romfo, Don Schmaltz, Ralph Anderson & Roy Lunde
Arrangements with the Anderson Funeral Home of Rugby. Online registry: www.funeralsbyanderson.com
Published by The Pierce County Tribune, January 17, 2026.