Opal Christensen

HUMBOLDT, IOWA - Opal M. Christensen, 78, of Humboldt passed away Monday evening February 2, 2009, at her home in Humboldt. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Faith United Methodist Church with the Rev. David Hobbs officiating. Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Humboldt. Visitation with the family will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt.

Opal Marie Weems, the daughter of Earl and Mabel (Crouch) Weems, was born on a farm near Botna December 30, 1930. She attended Jefferson Township No. 6 country school in Shelby County and graduated from Manning High School in 1948. Following her education, Opal was employed in a grocery store and in the office of Priebe and Sons. She was transferred to Humboldt, Iowa with Priebe and Sons where she met Dale "Demps" Christensen. They were united in marriage on June 30, 1953, at Fairmont, Minnesota, and the couple made their home at Humboldt. In 1955, Opal became employed in the offices of Sande Construction where she worked for 38 years until her retirement in 1993. Demps passed away in 2000 and Opal continued to maintain her home at Humboldt.

Opal was a member of the Faith United Methodist Church and was active in Charisma Circle. She was a life member of the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, and a member of the Business and Professional Women since 1965. Opal was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and enjoyed attending auctions, and volunteer work such as Meals on Wheels.

She is survived by her children, Marty (Cathi) Christensen of Loveland, Colorado, and Terry (Tammy) Christensen of Lincoln, Nebraska; grandchildren, Kyle, Kelly, Tyler, and Trevor Christensen; stepchildren, Mike (Kathy) Christensen of Ankeny, Connie (Steve) DeGroote of West Terre Haute, Indiana, and Susan (Rick) Kalsow of Arnolds Park; 9 step-grandchildren; 12 step great-grandchildren; two sisters Leona Hemminger of Elk Horn and Lois Wegner of Manning; brother-in-law, Neal (Sara) Christensen of Okoboji; sister-in-law, Virginia Christensen of Humboldt; and many friends and neighbors who were just like family. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dale "Demps" Christensen; brother, Bud (Norma) Weems; sisters , Evelyn (Jack) Borkowski and LaRae (Dick) Heller; and sister-in-law, Phyllis Wilkinson.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made out to the Hospice of Humboldt County.