Marie M. Opatril

Marie was born August 7, 1919, in a farm house near Downer, Minnesota, to John and Caroline Moklebust Kluck. She grew up on a farm near Downer, Minnesota and worked for area families until her marriage to Rudy Opatril in Moorhead, Minnesota on June 27, 1938. Following their marriage they farmed for thirty years, retiring in September of 1968. Rudy died April 2, 1986 and Marie remained on the farm until 2006. She recently resided at Serenity Assisted Living in Dilworth, Minnesota. When Marie's children were younger, she was active in 4-H. She was always active in Lysne Lutheran Church, served as the treasurer for the Circle and Ladies Aid and as the Superintendent for the Sunday School program. She was a former member of Homemaker's Group, Hobby Club, Hawley Gardening Club, TOPS Group, and a lifetime charter member of the International Hawley Volkssport Association, hosting two Volkssports events. She walked in Volkssport in 23 states, enjoyed hiking in Norway in 1983, and Israel in 1990. For many years, Marie housed and cared for Ithica, a Golden Eagle hatched from an egg artificially inseminated by Dr. Jim Grier, which was donated to the Chahinkapa Zoo in Wahpeton. Marie enjoyed gardening, canning, dancing, visiting with family and friends, and especially hosting family gatherings during the Holidays. Marie was interested in news and seemingly forever subscribed to the Hawley Herald and Fargo Forum. Marie is survived by her children, Milton Sandra Opatril, Dilworth, MN, Judy Lee Keith Gregerson, Fargo, ND, Richard Paulette Opatril, Hitterdal, MN, Duane Opatril, Hawley, MN, and Merlyn Opatril, Glyndon, MN; fourteen grandchildren, twenty-three great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rudy; one son, Ronald; three sisters: one at infancy, Alma at age 9, and Evelyn Pender; five brothers, William, Sylvester, Melvin, Alfred & Everett Kluck.