In 1949, they moved to their home place with the grandmother, Mamie Nolte. Opal became deaf after a high fever when she was 9 months old. Her parents took her to the UNL speech department to help her learn to lip read. Then she attended Prescott School, in the Hard of Hearing Unit.
Opal attended the School for the Deaf in Omaha and graduated in 1962. She and Arthur, her husband, were high school sweethearts for 6 years, before marrying on August 11, 1963. They moved to California while Arthur finished his college degree. They then moved back to Lincoln. Opal worked for the Nebraska Farmer before starting her family. She gave birth to Leonard on January 12, 1968, and to Debra on November 29, 1971. They lived in Lincoln for a short time and then built a new home on the farm in 1973. Opal and Arthur were married 60 years, August 11, 2023.
Opal was active in 4-H, raising pigs and showing them at the county and state fairs. She was awarded many ribbons and trophies and received two free trips to Purina Mills in St. Louis, MO. She is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church-Walton where she helped teach Sunday School to the pre-school children with her mother.
In 1991, Opal started working at the Kenl Inn grooming dogs. She always loved animals. She worked there until she retired in 2006.
Opal and Arthur enjoyed camping and being with their deaf friends. Family dinners were also fun celebrating each person’s birthday. They attended their grandchildren’s athletic events and school programs. Opal loved to travel, and they went on several cruises.
Survivors are husband, Arthur, son Leonard and wife Sherry, daughter Debra and husband Ron Buehler, grandchildren Justin and Teegan, Joshua and Jayden Harper, and Sarah and Rachel Buehler, great-granddaughter Sterling Rose Harper, sister Wauneta Peterson, adopted brother Albert Francke and brother-in-law Jim Valentine, niece Kathy and husband Brian Baumert, step-sister-in-law Charlene and husband Ken Boone, many cousins, and friends.
Funeral service: 11:00 am Thursday, October 5, 2023, Trinity Lutheran Church, 5315 S. 162nd St., Walton, NE. Please join the family for a reception immediately following the burial in the church basement.
Family will greet friends Wednesday, October 4, 2023, Roper and Sons, 4300 ‘O’ Street from 6-7:30 pm.
Memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church-Walton or Bennet Fire Department.