Bruce M. Pope, Sr.

Bruce M. Pope, Sr., age 92 of St. Peter, MN, passed away on November 26, 2025 surrounded by family at Ecumen Prairie Hill in St. Peter. Funeral Service will be held Friday, December 5, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Sunrise Church in St. Peter. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Bruce was born to Guy and Ruth (Crumlett) Pope on November 2, 1933 in Delton Township of Cottonwood County in Minnesota.

Bruce attended and graduated from Mountain Lake High School, where he played football for 4 years, was a member of the choir, the boys Glee Club and the boys Octet. In 1952, he attended North Central Bible College where he studied music, with the goal of becoming a music teacher but soon realized he was called to be a pastor. In 1954 he met his future wife, Lavetta, who also attended the same college. They were married on March 24, 1955 in Hopkins, MN, and were able to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary together on March 24, 2025.

In 1963, Bruce and Lavetta moved their family to Spring Valley, MN and then to Red Wing, MN in 1965, where Bruce was the pastor for the Assembly of God church in both cities. In 1970 Bruce joined Challenge Ministries, Inc as a Chaplain-Administrator for nursing homes in Austin, MN and Lake Charles, LA. In 1974 Bruce and Lavetta relocated to Glenwood, MN where he became the regional manager of 14 nursing homes. In 1976, Bruce and Lavetta relocated to St. Peter, MN after purchasing the Grandview Care Center. In 1982 Bruce decided to leave the nursing home business and started a home improvement company called American Window Company which he ran for the next 21 years until retirement. From 2002 to 2008 Bruce served as the care pastor at Sunrise Church.

Bruce’s passion throughout his life was to get to know and share the love of Christ with others.

Bruce is survived by his children Pamela (Ron) Brokhausen of Ramsey, MN, Bruce (Dawn) Pope of Austin, MN, Monica (Jody) Helland of Sauk Rapids, MN, nine grandchildren including Carson (Miku Takada) Hage, Zachary (Madison) Hage; six great-grandchildren with another expected in January 2026.

He is preceded in death by his wife Lavetta G. Pope, daughter Debra Pope; siblings Fern, Mage, and Sidney. He is survived by one sibling, Evelyn.

Special thanks to the care staff at Ecumen Prairie Hill and St. Croix Hospice. Your care and compassion meant so much to both of our parents and our family.