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Submitted: 1/7/12 • Approved: 1/7/12 • Last Updated: 8/13/15 • R144988-G144987-S3
Robert Mar 22, 1927 - Mar 1977
Opal Oct 22, 1927 - May 23, 2011
Married Sep 15, 1950
Opal VanEssen was born on October 22, 1927, at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the daughter of Tony and Kate (DeVries) VanEssen. She grew up in the Canton, Fairview and the Beloit, IA areas. On September 15, 1950 she married Robert Henriksen at Fairview. The couple lived on a farm near Fairview and the traveled due to Robert's construction jobs. The family settled at their home west of Worthing in 1960. Robert died on March 19, 1977. Opal then married Julius Abbas on October 22, 1990. He died on October 6, 1997. Opal was a devoted wife and homemaker. She was a member of the First English Lutheran Church, Lennox and the Worthing American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed gardening and loved the color purple. Besides her parents and husbands, Opal was preceding in death by one son Tim on August 10, 1963, a granddaughter, Paula Henriksen on February 11, 1975; two brothers: Henry VanEssen and Casey Niemeyer and two sisters: Bessie Peters and Hermina VanDenHul. Grateful for having shared her life are her children: Larry (Darla) Henriksen, Worthing, Tom (Virginia) Henriksen, Sioux Falls and Lois (Edward) Fett, Lennox; seven grandchildren: Luke (Jackie) Henriksen, Dave (Andrea) Henriksen, Justin (Katelyn) Henriksen, Kyle Henriksen and Tiffany Henriksen all of Sioux Falls, Bill (Marjet) Lowe, Motley, MN and Brian Fett, Lennox; five great-grandchildren as well as a host of other relatives and friends
Photo & research by Gene Hammerstrom
Used with permission
Contributed on 1/7/12 by revilo
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Record #: 144988