Opal Evenson

Opal J. Evenson, age 100, New Effington, passed away Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the Browns Valley Health Center.

Funeral services will be Monday, July 29, at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in New Effington officiated by Rev. Karie Geyer.  Music will be provided by organist Deb Bredvik.

Burial will be in the Garden of Rest Cemetery, New Effington.  Pallbearers will be Eric Evenson, Nick Pelletier, Matt Evenson, Scott Althaus, Ben Evenson, Jack Althaus, Mike Koeppe, Daren Koeppe, and Casey Erickson.

Visitation will be Monday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Opal Janice was born June 18, 1924, to Joseph and Olga (Hanson) Bakken in Nansen Township, Richland County, ND, near Galchutt. She attended country school in Nansen Township and eighth grade in Abercrombie and then returned to help on the farm.  She credited her Norwegian heritage to teaching her the importance of hard work.

Opal met one of the neighbor boys, Wallace Evenson, and fell in love.  They were married June 27, 1941, at the Breckenridge Lutheran Church in Breckenridge, MN.  After Janet was born, Opal and Janet followed Wally down to Little Rock, AR, where he was stationed before he went to Germany.  When Wally was sent overseas, Opal and Janet stayed with her parents. After Wally returned, the family resided in Wahpeton.  Opal did day care and house cleaning.  In 1963, Opal and Wally moved to New Effington and owned and operated Evenson's Grocery Store.  They retired in 1985 and continued to help their sons in the store.

Opal was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in New Effington and was active in the Ladies Circle, Ladies Aid, and sang in the choir.  She was also a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Opal and Wally thoroughly enjoyed old-time polka music and all kinds of dancing from square dancing to old-fashioned polkas and waltzes.  They went square dancing on Wednesday nights to the White Eagle in New Effington or Legion or VFW in Sisseton on Friday and Saturday nights, and to Doran or the Cat's Eye on Sunday.

Always an early bird, Opal loved baking pies and homemade buns.  She crocheted hundreds of doilies and gifted Christmas tree skirts to all of the kids and grandkids. Opal also liked playing the card games Whist, Pinochle, and Spades as well as fishing in the summer and watching the Minnesota Twins.  Family time was special, and Opal loved seeing and visiting with her kids and grandkids and going to their activities.

Survivors include her children, Janet (Jim) Kapitan of Fargo, Larry (Marlene) Evenson of Richfield, MN, Ron Evenson of Claire City, SD, and Julie (Leon) Koeppe of Lake City, SD; 9 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Eileen Sorenson and Diane (Phil) Sakrismo; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wally; daughter-in-law, Cindy Evenson; an infant granddaughter; sister, Beatrice (Vernon) Popp; brothers, Donald (Audrey) Bakken, Vernon (Jean) Bakken, and Joe Jr. (Phoebe) Bakken; brothers and sisters-in-law, Lyle (Pat) Aarhus, Gordon (Mary) Evenson, Arlin (Lorraine) Evenson, Vernon (Rosella) Evenson, Harvey (Janice) Kraemer, and Sanford Sorenson.