Evangeline Opheim

Hills, MN Evangeline Opheim, age 82 of Hills, MN died Sunday, June 19, 2011 at her residence in Hills, MN. Funeral service will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, June 25th at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills, MN, with Rev. Mahlon Bekedam officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, June 24th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills. Evangeline Ruth Opheim was born November 11, 1928 near Irene, South Dakota, the daughter of M. Oscar and Marie (Satrum) Johnson. She attended the Irene Community Schools and graduated in 1946. She continued her education at St. Olaf College where she graduated in 1950 with a BA in music. After teaching 2 years in Parker, SD High School she left teaching and began a career in the church work as a parish secretary at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, IA for 4 years then 3 years at Saint Anthony Park Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN. On September 6, 1958 Evangeline was united in marriage to Odean G.S. Opheim at Trinity Lutheran Church in Irene, SD. They moved to a farm northwest of Hills, MN where they raised a family and farmed for several years. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills, where she played the organ from 1964 to 2004. She also was active with the ladies circle. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, flowers, giving piano lessons, traveling, attending musical concerts, and coffee with her neighbor Grace. Most of all she loved spending time with her immediate family. On October 20, 1990 Evangelines husband, Odean died after 32 years of marriage. She remained active through her church life playing for weddings, funerals and Sunday services until 2004. In May of 2010 she was diagnosed with Alzheimers/Dementia and moved in with her son and daughter-in-law in Hills in July of 2010 where she passed away with family present Sunday, June 19, 2011 at the age of 82. She is survived by three sons, Alan Opheim of Hills, MN, Paul Opheim of Beaver Creek, MN and Mark (Marie) Opheim of Hills, MN; two step-grandchildren, Eric and Kirsten Kooistra, sister-in-law Alicia Opheim, 3 nieces and 4 nephews and other extended family She was preceded in death by her parents M. Oscar and Marie Johnson, husband Odean Opheim; two infant children, Henrick and Elizabeth Ruth.