Opal May Hayden Bloomgren age 83, went to be with the Lord on December 8, 2011 at Southwest Healthcare Services LTC. A Friends and Family Service will be held on Monday, December 12th at 7pm at the Bowman Lutheran Church. Funeral Services will be at 10 AM on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at the Bowman Lutheran Church with Pastors Galen Strand and Chuck Swanson officiating. Burial will be at Mound Cemetery.
Opal was born June 18, 1928 to Arlie Maple Hayden and Dorothy Mabel (Getz) Hayden on a farm by Golva, ND. Her Mother died when she was 5 weeks old and she was raised by her Grandparents- Albert and Katherine Getz on a farm 25 miles north of Rhame. She attended grade school in Richland Center and then later in Rhame graduating second in her class from Rhame High School. Opal enjoyed basketball and was a member of the high school team that won the District Championship in 1946. She had a beautiful voice and a deep love for music. In high school, she sang in the choir as well as solos and small groups. Later on, she was the organist at Rhame Lutheran Church where you could hear a rousing peppy song for the congregation to exit to.
On June 24, 1946, Opal married the love of her life, Ernest Alfred Bloomgren. Together they raised 6 children while operating the family farm north of Rhame. Opal always had a huge garden and especially enjoyed her strawberries. Ernie and Opal would often stop on the roadsides to pick wild berries also.
Besides raising her family, Opal worked as a nurse's aid at St. Luke's Hospital in Bowman for 23 years giving compassionate care to all her patients. Many times she would bring crocuses to share with those at work.
Things that bring happy memories of Opal include dancing, roses, strawberries, sheep, Stanley and Rubbermaid products, birds, oh those angel food cakes, lefse, wacky cakes, homemade bread, crocheted blankets, the most beautiful dimpled smile, tons of love for her family and friends, fishing, and playing the accordion, organ and piano.
Welcoming Opal to Heaven are her parents, son Steve, grandson Richard Kohlmeier, great grandchildren – Haley and Dillon Bloomgren, brother Willard Hayden and half-sister Ruby McClaine
Opal is survived by her husband of 65 years, Ernie; children: Dorothy (Don) Kohlmeier-Battle Lake, MN, Sheri (Steve) Bloomgren Breen- Bowman, ND; Mike (Heidi) Bloomgren- Scranton, ND, Bette (Dave) Tooley- Hunter, ND, Cathy (Steve) Wanderaas- Vida, MT, Arley Bloomgren- Fargo, ND. She leaves grandchildren: Kelly (Richard) Kohlmeier, David (Annette) Kohlmeier, Rebecca and Maria Kohlmeier, Jason (Jean) Bloomgren, Justin (Chris) Bloomgren, Jared (Cami) Bloomgren, Eric and Jordan Bloomgren, Chad (Kathy)Tooley, Cara (Matt)Tooley Spur, Mark (Amie) Peterson, Travis (Katie) Peterson, Paul Wanderaas, Jessica, Josh and Jamie Bloomgren, 23 Great-Grandchildren, half-brother Merle Hayden, and half-sisters Marilyn McLaughlin and Marlene Bechtold,and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be given in Opal's name to the Rhame Lutheran Church, SW Healthcare LTC or a charity of your choice.