Marjorie Vopat-Byker

MARJORIE JEAN VOPAT-BYKER

Marjorie Jean Vopat Byker met our Lord on Sunday, May 31st, 2026.  She passed away at the Heartwood Care Center in Crosby, Mn.  She was 98 years and 9 months. and lived a long fulfilling life. Mom left a legacy of love to her children and family and a lasting impression on her many friends. She embodied the best of virtues; unconditional love for her children, strength of spirit, and a quest for adventure and learning.  She was born on September 12th,1927 to Frank & Betty Hoefert in rural Seneca, S.Dak. Her small- town roots shaped her core values of loving God and neighbors and a work ethic that she exemplified throughout her life. After graduating from Senca High School she “took her wings” and ventured to Beverly Hills, California where she attended Fashion Design Academy. After graduating she returned to Seneca where she married Kenneth Vopat. Throughout their marriage they moved to various locations, eventually settling on a farm near Seneca. Life was busy between parenting eight children, gardening, canning, and raising and cleaning chickens. One of her greatest treasures was creating her own “Cooking with Marge” cookbook where she shared her recipes including her famous bread, buns and homemade noodles and fried chicken. In addition to her cooking skills, she became an avid seamstress using Vogue patterns. Being a mother and homemaker was her first love. She was always present with loving arms to hug, lead, train, discipline, take us to church and say our prayers every night. After 20 years of farm life a new adventure lay ahead for Mom. She moved to Minnesota where she worked as a server and a restaurant manager. Later she went to school to become a travel agent, starting at Dayton’s Department store. She found her passion for exploring new destinations with the reward of helping others with their travel adventures. She lived in Michigan for two years before moving back to Minnesota. In1985 she moved to Mesa, Arizona to be close to her youngest daughter who was attending ASU. Mom loved the desert and wasn’t timid to drive to unknown places throughout Phoenix. Building her dream home on Sugar lake in Glen,  Mn, was the highlight of her life. Shortly after moving to Sugar Lake she met the love of her life; Gerald (Jerry) Byker. They married in 1998 and had 27 years together until his death in 2025. They had the best of both worlds travelling as snowbirds between Minnesota and Arizona. Some of their happiest years together were spent at Silveridge RV Resort in Mesa, Az. While there she resumed her love of design by learning how to paint in all mediums at a “Spectral Arts Class”. Among her favorite activities were golfing, attending bible study, movies and concerts. She loved entertaining and cooking and it brought her joy to have her family and friends visit!   Heartwood Community Center became her final home in 2019. During those years she moved from independent to assisted living, memory care with Jerry; then back to assisted living, and eventually to the Care Center. A purpose driven life carried her through her last seven years. Her devotion and patience to Jerry who suffered from Alzheimer’s did not go unnoticed. Volunteering her time teaching a monthly painting class was a popular activity and one that she delighted in doing.  She will always be remembered for her “Open Door Policy.”  Friends and staff enjoyed daily visits. She was an engaging and smart conversationalist who always was willing to listen and share their lives.

Psalms 91:16 reads “With long life I will satisfy her and show her my salvation.” Even though God gave our mother a long life, she had endured the suffering of the loss of four children and her husband. She was a cancer survivor. God showed His faithfulness by her testimony of a life filled with peace and purpose and now eternal life and fellowship with Him.

Marjorie is survived by her daughters: Susan (Jeff) Arneson, Palisade, Mn; Nina (Robert) Mills, Apple Valley, Mn; Betsy (Greg) Drehmel, Lakeville, Mn; and son Mark Vopat, Faulkton, SD. Sixteen grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. Marge was preceded in death by sons Kent, David, Paul and daughter Lisa, her parents Frank & Betty Hoefert, brother Robert Hoefert and sister Nancy Misfeldt, and three grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Glory Baptist Church, Glen, MN.  11:00am Friday, June 19,  2026.  Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service at the church.

Additionally there will be a Memorial Service at Heartwood, 500 Heartwood Dr, Crosby, Mn. on Friday, June 12th from 1:00- 3:00.

Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin.  www.srtfuneral.com   

Marjorie’s children are very grateful for the excellent and compassionate care she received at Heartwood.

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