Daniel Furaus

Daniel “Dan” Furaus passed away peacefully at home on November 8, 2025, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM on Friday, November 14 at Spirit of Life Catholic Church in Mandan with Fr. Keith Streifel presiding. Burial will follow a luncheon at 1:30 PM at Mandan Union Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday, November 13 from 4-6 PM with a Parish Rosary/Vigil service at 6 PM at Weigel Funeral Home in Mandan.

Dan was born on May 21, 1948, in Harvey, North Dakota, to Phillip and Florence (Torgerson) Furaus. His early years shaped the man he would become, kind, hardworking, and endlessly curious about the world around him.

While attending Harvey High School, Dan met Brenda Mack, the girl who would change his life. He once told her that he was going to marry her someday, long before he even convinced her to go on a first date—and, true to his word, he did. They were married on July 23, 1971, beginning a marriage that would span 54 years.

Dan earned his degree in education from the University of North Dakota and began his teaching career in Cavalier, ND before moving to Mandan in 1976. There, he became a lifelong “Mandan Brave” and devoted nearly three decades to serving the Mandan community while teaching and leading at Mandan High School.

Teaching wasn’t just Dan’s job, it was his calling. He had a gift for inspiring confidence in his students. He taught History, Sociology, and Psychology with passion and humor and proudly coached Mandan High’s first girls’ basketball team.

After earning his master’s in administration, Dan served as assistant principal and later principal of Mandan High School. Colleagues and students alike remember him as a steady, compassionate leader who believed every young person had the potential to succeed if given encouragement and guidance. Even years after retirement, former students would stop him to say “thank you” for the difference he made.

Dan’s greatest joy, however, was his family. He and Brenda raised three daughters—Beth, Jill, and Lori, who were the center of his world. He built snow forts in winter, played basketball in the driveway, helped with homework, and never missed a chance to cheer from the sidelines, his voice often carrying above the crowd.

His role as “Papa” and “Grandpa” to seven grandchildren - Ethan, Hailey, Judah, Amelia, Isla, Elyse, and Alice—brought him endless joy. Whether telling stories, offering advice, or simply playing a game, he continued to teach by example.

Dan loved to spark curiosity, whether in the classroom or in his everyday life. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched, as a teacher, a mentor, a husband, a father, and a friend. His life was a lesson in love, patience, and the power of believing in and advocating for others.

Dan is survived by his wife, Brenda; his daughters Beth Blumhardt, Jill Beilke (Dustin), and Lori Furaus (Gino Jose), all of Mandan; his brothers Gerald Furaus (St. Louis, MO) and Duane Furaus (Knob Noster, MO); sisters Carol (Dale) Lesmann (Minot, ND), and Vicki Furaus (Colorado Springs, CO); as well as his extended family and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Phillip and Florence; sister, Marva Ness; and sister-in-law, Julie Buxa.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Mandan Foundation for Education or the Bismarck Parkinson’s Support Group, PO Box 4174, Bismarck, ND 58502.