Irene Opitz

Irene was born on January 25, 1925, in Kenmare, North Dakota, the daughter of Alois and Magda (Bye) Frank, immigrants of Germany and Norway. She attended grade school in Sauk Prairie Township, Ward Co, near Kenmare. Irene graduated from Tolley, North Dakota High School in 1941. She furthered her education at Minot State Teachers College and taught rural schools in Ward and Renville Counties in North Dakota from 1942 ? 1944. Irene married Clifford Opitz in 1944 at St. Peter & Paul?s Catholic Church in Tolley, North Dakota. The couple farmed the first few years of their marriage. In 1949, they moved into Kenmare and were both employed at the Farmers Union Oil Co. In 1951, the Opitz family left Kenmare and during the next 23 years she made many moves with Cliff and family during his years of management of Farmers Union Oil Companies in Oberon, North Dakota, Paynesville, MN, and Mankato, MN. Irene was employed in bookkeeping at each of these locations. They moved to West St. Paul in 1974, when Cliff was employed at the home office of Cenex in South St. Paul. In 1977, the couple moved to Alexandria where Cliff became the State Field Representative in grain handling equipment for Cenex. After retiring, they spent the winters in Arizona. Cliff died on May of 2002 and Irene continued to live in Alexandria. Mrs. Opitz was a member of St. Mary?s Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, various ministries, including the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and other charitable knitting and crocheting projects. She enjoyed oil painting, golfing, sewing, cards, bingo, and socializing. Irene died on Sunday, February 17, 2008. She is survived by two children: Devon (Mike) Zarling of Fairmont, MN, Dana Opitz of Mankato; grandsons: Cory Zarling of Oakdale, MN, Jeffrey (Julie) Zarling of Fairmont, MN, Caleb Opitz of Faribault, MN; sister, Elaine (Earl) Hartman of Silverton, OR; cousins, nieces and nephews. Parish Prayer Service will be on Monday, February 25, 2008, 5:00 p.m. and a Christian Mothers Rosary at 5:30 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 1:00 p.m. at St. Mary?s Catholic Church with Father Steve Binsfeld officiating. Inurnment will be at St. Mary?s Cemetery in Alexandria. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home.