Opal G. Harrison, 87, of Sioux City, passed away Sunday, April 23, 2017, at Sunrise Retirement Community in Sioux City.
Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Hinton United Methodist Church in Hinton, Iowa. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Opal Gertrude Bates, the daughter of Leslie and Gertrude (Macklem) Bates, was born on Nov. 14, 1929, in Hungerford Township, Plymouth County, Iowa. She graduated from Hinton High School in 1948.
She worked at the Hinton Elevator for a few years before her marriage to Darrell "Buck" Harrison on Aug. 4, 1954, at Hinton United Methodist Church. Opal traveled with Buck to Japan, Colorado, California, Germany, Texas, and wherever the U.S. Army sent them. She kept the home fires burning, as Buck said, wherever they were. She later worked for Bekins Furniture Store and then Williges Clothing Store.
Opal loved her family, cooking, playing cards, and going to as many activities of her children and grandchildren as she possibly could. She had a great sense of humor and always had a smile. She also was a Minnesota Vikings fan to the end. Opal was a member of Hinton United Methodist Church and had been a Sunday School teacher there years ago.
Those left to honor her memory include her children, Leslie (Terry) Riediger of Lawton, Iowa, Darrell (DiAnn) Harrison Jr. of Monroe, N.C., Kent (Alice) Harrison of Lincoln, Neb., and Teresa (Matt) Weesner of Denver, Colo.; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Doris (Gordon) Arndt of Hinton; a brother, Kenny (Sue) Bates of Fort Myers, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Karen (Connie) Erickson of Sioux City; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Buck in 2016; two infant children; and recently a brother and sister-in-law, Lowell and Virginia Bates.
Opal's family wishes to thank all the Sunrise staff for taking such good care of both Opal and Buck.