Corrine Pat Opdahl

Corrine "Pat" Opdahl, 87, died January 27, 2014, at Sanford Health Continuing Care Center on Sunset, Mandan. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, February 15, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. There will be no visitation, cremation has taken place. Burial of her ashes will take place at a later date. Pat was born January 11, 1927, in Karnak, ND, the daughter of James and Nina Jacobsen Semmens. She grew up and attended schools in Karnak, Kimball, MN, and Litchville, ND. Following high school graduation, she attended the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Valley City, ND. She contracted TB from a patient and spent eight months at San Haven Sanitorium and several months at home recovering. She then moved to Fargo and was employed by NW Bell Telephone. On June 5, 1948, Pat married Don Opdahl at First Lutheran Church in Litchville. They made their home in Valley City, ND and to this union four children were born. After 23 years of marriage, they divorced. Pat was a stay-at-home mom and later a Welcome Wagon hostess, and worked as church secretary at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Valley City for about ten years. She was married to Lyle Gudmestad for about eight years. She then moved to Fargo, ND, and worked as a secretary for Kelly Services. She lived in Minot, ND, briefly and then moved to Bismarck, ND, and worked as a hostess for bus tours, and did secretarial work. Getting a college education was a lifelong goal and at age 62 Pat graduated from Bismarck State College with an associate degree. She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bismarck. She volunteered as a docent at the Bismarck Heritage Center and was a foster grandparent at Northridge Elementary School. Pat was known for her artistic talent and often designed and crafted decorations for various club functions. She loved to oil paint and later learned water color painting. She shared many of her paintings with her family and friends. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. Pat loved wearing hats, sewing, swimming, dancing, walking, picnics, flower, and spending time with friends and family. Pat is survived by her children, Rebecca Neil Heringer, Washburn, ND, Sharon Opdahl, Pasadena, CA, James Sandie Opdahl, Bismarck, and Roberta Rick Beckey, Plymouth, MN; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Doris Sand, Fargo, ND, and Janice Earl Strinden, Grand Forks; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, LaFerne Beglau.

Corrine Pat Opdahl

January 11, 1927 - January 27, 2014