Opal B Larson

Funeral Services for Opal B. Larson will be conducted from the Christian Homes Chapel at Holdrege, Nebraska on Monday, March 9, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. with Mr. Wayne Carlson, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Opal Blanche Larson, 95 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at the Christian Homes Care Community at Holdrege. Opal was born December 23, 1913 in the Urbana District west of Loomis in Phelps County, Nebraska, the second of three children of John Wesley and Minnie Louise (Payne) Backencamp. Opal received her primary education in the Urbana District and then graduated from Loomis High School with the class of 1932. She lived most of her life in Phelps County, except for a few years after graduation in Washington and Oregon.

In 1942, she was united in marriage to Carl Larson and to this union two children were born: Bob and Karen. Carl was tragically taken in 1958. The family made their home in Holdrege, where Opal held several jobs to support her family. She was employed by Becton-Dickinson for twelve years prior to her retirement at age 71. After retirement, she began to apply herself as a seamstress from her home and enjoyed providing sewing for her friends and family. In addition to her sewing, Opal enjoyed her hobbies of growing roses, gardening, playing cards, baking, and canning tomatoes. Her home was always full of children, grandchildren, relatives, and neighbors; everyone was welcome.

She was a member of the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, made many friendship bonds through the years in Extension Club and loved her involvement at the Holdrege Senior Center, where she was co-manager for two years. In 2006, Opal began to make her home at the Christian Homes Care Community.

She leaves to mourn her passing her son, Bob Larson and his wife, Suzanne of Cedar Creek, Nebraska; four grandchildren: Heath Rader and his wife, Kylie, Justin Rader and his wife, Lornique, Corey Larson and his wife, Teresa and Darci Larson; five great-grandchildren: Hunter, Kailee and Kendra Rader and Jacob and Brock Larson; one sister, Mary Johnson of Holdrege; and a host of nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Stanley in infancy from her first marriage; daughter, Karen Sue Rader; one sister, Beulah Wick and her husband, Clarence and brother-in-law, Vernon Johnson.

Opal will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Sunday, March 8, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in her memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com.

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.