Opal Larson

Opal Eileen (Wheeler) Larson completed her life journey at the Traverse Care Center in Wheaton, on October 19, 2019, just two days after her 99th birthday.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, October 24, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton with Pastor Tim Shekleton officiating. Organist will be Cheryl Shekleton.

Visitation will be held Thursday morning one hour prior to service time at the church.

Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Opal’s grandchildren.

Opal was born on October 17, 1920 to Harley Jacob and Mary Alice (Loop) Wheeler in Traverse County, Minnesota.

Opal attended District 41 County School and graduated from Tintah High School in 1939. Opal continued her education at the Ag School in Morris. She worked at the Farmers Store and at The Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA), both in Wheaton.

On June 4, 1948, Opal was united in marriage to Milton Elmer Larson in
Tintah, Minnesota. She made Wheaton her home for the next 71 years.

Opal was the CEO of the Larson household supporting Milton in his career as the owner and operator of Larsons, Inc, a John Deere dealership serving the Traverse County area. Opal was a beautiful seamstress, an avid gardener, a volunteer at her church, and a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

Her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends were the recipients of many of her masterpieces which included handmade quilts, crocheted blankets, flannel baby blankets, Halloween costumes, special occasion clothing, flowers, produce, canned goods, homemade bread and pies of every variety.

Opal is survived by her five children: Irene Larson, Lynn (Bill Jarrells) of Ramsey, MN, Mark (Karen) of Edina, MN, Doug (Lesly) of Minnetonka, MN and Brian (Kim) of Orlando, FL and her 10 grandchildren: Chris (Kristin) Stapleton, Suzanne (Adam) Frisch, Molly (Michael) Studer, Andrew Larson, Curt (DeAnna) Larson, Julia (Tim) Rascher, Victoria Larson, Tom Larson, Claire Larson, Grace Larson and six great grandchildren. She is survived by her sister-in-law Muriel A’Bell and brother-in-law Ole Larson. Many nieces and nephews also survive her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Milton Larson, her siblings Marjorie Broesder and Norman Wheeler, and numerous in-laws.

The family wishes to thank Traverse Care Center for their compassionate care of Opal for the past three years.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Wheaton Community Diner (Wheaton Senior Citizens Center).