Donald Opsahl died May 12, 2007, at Cokato Manor in Cokato. He was 78. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at North Crow River Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Mike Nelson officiating. Interment with a family service will be held at a later date at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. Donald Maynard Opsahl was born Jan. 17, 1929, at French Lake to Rangvald “Ray” and Esther (Sandlund) Opsahl. He was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church. He worked at Johnson Produce and Northland Canning Factory, both in Cokato before entering the service. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953. He was a chef and stationed at Eielson Air Force Base near Anchorage, Alaska. Upon returning from the service, Donald worked at F.M.C. (Northern Ordnance) in Fridley. He was a superintendent of the foundary in the naval defense plant, and worked there until retiring in 1984. Donald married Elaine Blodgett July 3, 1954, in the Knapp Church. They had two daughters – Carol born in 1957 and Susan in 1961. He delivered Susan at home (they never made it to the hospital). The couple lived in Columbia Heights and spent weekends at their cabin near Kingston. In 1974, they built their current home overlooking Mud Lake. Donald was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and American Legion Johnson Kelly Post 483 of Kingston, where he enjoyed making the potato salad for the annual fish fry. Don loved living in the country and spending time with his family, fishing, gardening and having fish fries by the cabin. He liked to work on his model A’s and also had a license plate collection. His grandkids have fond memories of spending time with grandpa. Don was preceded in death by his parents Ray and Esther, and sister Opal. Don is survived by his wife Elaine; daughters Carol Nass of Kimball and Susan Opshal of South Haven; grandchildren Jamie, Krista, Jedidiah and Tayler; great-grandchildren Blake and Jozey; brothers Russell (and LeVina) Opsahl of Annandale, Alfred (and Connie) Opsahl of Fridley; sisters Ardis Andrews of Seattle, Wash., Romel Lembke of Litchfield and Grace Grover of Renton, Wash. Jedidiah Cates was urn bearer. Music was provided by Lynda Peterson. Arrangements were by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home, Cokato.
