1944
Doris
2014
Doris Opsahl
March 12, 1944 — December 15, 2014
Doris Opsahl, 70, of Underwood, died Monday, December 15, 2014, at her home.
Doris Ann Hagen was born March 12, 1944 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Elmer N. and Mabel (Skogen) Hagen. She attended Barnhard School District #182 through eighth grade, after which she attended Underwood High School, until her graduation in 1962. Doris was extremely musical, playing the flute, piano and organ. After high school, she attended Fergus Falls Junior College, being employed a short time later by Otter Tail Power Company as a secretary. When the company decided to "computerize", she and Lila Schmidt were chosen to go to Minneapolis to be trained on operating these enormous machines. After training, she and Lila found that there were many, many days that they didn't get home until midnight or later. Doris stuck with computers until she found an opening in the Personnel Department.
While working for Otter Tail Power, Doris went on a blind date with "this guy" from Rothsay. She dated him for two years, then they decided to get married. Doris married Charles Opsahl on November 18, 1972 at Bethlehem Church in Fergus Falls, because her home church (Aurdal) had burned in 1971 and it had not been rebuilt.
After getting married, Doris left her job and moved to the house in Moorhead Charlie had purchased for them, east of Concordia College. Charlie worked the night shift at the Fargo Post Office and Doris went to work for the Fargo Clinic, and later for Concordia College. In 1974, Doris left her job to care for her mother who was ill with cancer. Sick of driving, Charlie applied for a transfer to the Fergus Falls Post Office, which he received a short time later, so they purchased a house and moved to Fergus Falls. Following the death of her mother later that year, Doris and Charlie were blessed with the birth of their first child, Beth Marie in 1975, and later Heidi Lynn in 1977.
In 1981, Charlie and Doris purchased a small farm near her family's farm in rural Underwood, where they were blessed with a son, Mark Andrew in September of 1986.
Doris was baptized, confirmed and was a lifelong member of Aurdal Lutheran Church. She played the organ for church services on and off from high school until 2000. She also taught Sunday school and played the piano for Sunday school groups for many years. She was also a member of the Ladies Aid.
Doris was a fantastic cook and baker, making lots of Norwegian goodies, and included her daughters in her baking activities. She enjoyed cooking shows and was always looking for a new dish to prepare for her family. Doris also loved collecting, and reading, cookbooks. She even put together one of her own and had it published in 2009, which had been a dream of hers.
Doris enjoyed traveling, so family trips were taken most summers, some quite a distance and some not quite as far. The focus of Charlie and Doris's recent trips was to spend time with their grandchildren, whom she enjoyed. Charlie retired in 2007 and Doris and he worked on home improvement projects, both at home and at Doris' home place. Sundays were often spent having a noon meal out and driving around. She enjoyed knitting, needlework, and was known for the many craft items she made with perfection. Doris would go to different craft shows in the area, and went as far as Minot at one point.
Doris is survived by her husband, Charlie; two daughters, Beth Marie Opsahl of Underwood; Heidi Lynn (Michael) Voeller and their two children, Hailey (3) and Luke (2) of Rugby, North Dakota; son, Mark (Danielle) Opsahl of Fergus Falls; aunt, Edith Skogen of Fergus Falls; and several cousins and their families.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Duane; and several aunts and uncles, Melvin (Helen) Hagen, Selma (Fred) Fick, Dean (Ella) Tomhave, Reuben Skogen, Kenny Skogen, and Mae Skogen.
Visitation: 5 – 7 PM Friday with a 6 PM Prayer Service, at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls, and one prior to services at the church.
Funeral Service: 11 AM Saturday, December 20, 2014, at Aurdal Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend James Amspacher and Reverend Ken Austin
Interment: Aurdal Lutheran Cemetery
Condolences: GlendeNilson.com
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Remembering the Life of Doris Opsal
Doris Ann Hagen was born March 12, 1944 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Elmer N. and Mabel (Skogen) Hagen. She attended Barnhard School District #182 through eighth grade, after which she attended Underwood High School, until her graduation in 1962. Doris was extremely musical, playing the flute, piano and organ. After high school, she attended Fergus Falls Junior College, being employed a short time later by Otter Tail Power Company as a secretary. When the company decided to "computerize", she and Lila Schmidt were chosen to go to Minneapolis to be trained on operating these enormous machines. After training, she and Lila found that there were many, many days that they didn't get home until midnight or later. Doris stuck with computers until she found an opening in the Personnel Department.
While working for Otter Tail Power, Doris went on a blind date with "this guy" from Rothsay. She dated him for two years, then they decided to get married. Doris married Charles Opsahl on November 18, 1972 at Bethlehem Church in Fergus Falls, because her home church (Aurdal) had burned in 1971 and it had not been rebuilt.
After getting married, Doris left her job and moved to the house in Moorhead Charlie had purchased for them, east of Concordia College. Charlie worked the night shift at the Fargo Post Office and Doris went to work for the Fargo Clinic, and later for Concordia College. In 1974, Doris left her job to care for her mother who was ill with cancer. Sick of driving, Charlie applied for a transfer to the Fergus Falls Post Office, which he received a short time later, so they purchased a house and moved to Fergus Falls. Following the death of her mother later that year, Doris and Charlie were blessed with the birth of their first child, Beth Marie in 1975, and later Heidi Lynn in 1977.
In 1981, Charlie and Doris purchased a small farm near her family's farm in rural Underwood, where they were blessed with a son, Mark Andrew in September of 1986.
Doris was baptized, confirmed and was a lifelong member of Aurdal Lutheran Church. She played the organ for church services on and off from high school until 2000. She also taught Sunday school and played the piano for Sunday school groups for many years. She was also a member of the Ladies Aid.
Doris was a fantastic cook and baker, making lots of Norwegian goodies, and included her daughters in her baking activities. She enjoyed cooking shows and was always looking for a new dish to prepare for her family. Doris also loved collecting, and reading, cookbooks. She even put together one of her own and had it published in 2009, which had been a dream of hers.
Doris enjoyed traveling, so family trips were taken most summers, some quite a distance and some not quite as far. The focus of Charlie and Doris's recent trips was to spend time with their grandchildren, whom she enjoyed. Charlie retired in 2007 and Doris and he worked on home improvement projects, both at home and at Doris' home place. Sundays were often spent having a noon meal out and driving around. She enjoyed knitting, needlework, and was known for the many craft items she made with perfection. Doris would go to different craft shows in the area, and went as far as Minot at one point.
Doris is survived by her husband, Charlie; two daughters, Beth Marie Opsahl of Underwood; Heidi Lynn (Michael) Voeller and their two children, Hailey (3) and Luke (2) of Rugby, North Dakota; son, Mark (Danielle) Opsahl of Fergus Falls; aunt, Edith Skogen of Fergus Falls; and several cousins and their families.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Duane; and several aunts and uncles, Melvin (Helen) Hagen, Selma (Fred) Fick, Dean (Ella) Tomhave, Reuben Skogen, Kenny Skogen, and Mae Skogen.
Visitation: 5 – 7 PM Friday with a 6 PM Prayer Service, at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls, and one prior to services at the church.
Funeral Service: 11 AM Saturday, December 20, 2014, at Aurdal Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend James Amspacher and Reverend Ken Austin
Interment: Aurdal Lutheran Cemetery
Condolences: GlendeNilson.com
Remembering the Life of Doris Opsal
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