Doris Mae Opseth, 90, of Monroe, Ga., formerly of Minot and Bowbells, died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, at Park Place Nursing Home in Monroe.
Doris Mae Kirkelie was born Aug. 14, 1921, the daughter of Arne and Emma (Carson) Kirkelie, of rural Bowbells. She attended country school and worked for neighbors as well as at the Inn We Go Cafe for a short time. She often said she was her Dad's "hired man" on the farm.
Doris Mae married Harold Odin Opseth Sept. 16, 1939, in Bowbells. They lived in Portland, Ore., briefly before returning to the Opseth family farm, located in Ward Township of Burke County, west of Coteau. They retired from farming in 1979, and moved to Minot in 1988. Doris was active in the Senior Citizens in Minot for several years.
Harold passed away July 15, 2002. Following her husband's death, she continued to reside in Minot until February 2010, when she moved to Georgia to be closer to her daughter, Gloria.
She enjoyed baking, sewing, crocheting, playing cards and Bingo, bowling, and being with friends and family. She grew beautiful flowers, big gardens, raised chickens and pigs, milked cows and sold the cream for "pin money." When she and Harold weren't farming they loved fishing and she always seemed to catch the big ones. She held the North Dakota women's record for the largest northern pike for many years.
Surviving family includes: two sons, Russell (Karen), of Harpers Ferry, W. Va., Larry, of Richfield, Minn., daughter, Gloria (Doug) Ryberg, of Monroe Ga.; seven grandchildren, Patricia (Kevin) Petrusha, of Ortonville, Mich., Susan (Julian) Galan, of Crossville Tenn., Kristina (Tony) Ersfeld, of Faribault, Minn., Lisa (Mensur) Muftic, of Lawrenceville, Ga., Jason Ryberg, of West Fargo, Jennifer Opseth, and Brandon Opseth, both of Harpers Ferry, W. Va.; 11 great-grandchildren, Joshua Petrusha, of Ortonville, Mich., Bailey, Brooke, Brylee and Calvin Galan, of Crossville, Tenn., Haley and Allison Ersfeld, of Faribault, Minn., Safia, Rizah and Meliha Muftic, of Lawrenceville, Ga., Bjorn Opseth, of Harpers Ferry, W. Va.; one sister, Mary Lou (John) Thompson, of Beaverton, Ore., and numerous nieces and nephews.
Doris Mae was preceded in death by her parents; husband of almost 63 years, Harold; great-granddaughter, Skylar Ersfeld; three brothers, Harry (Elaine) Kirkelie, of Vancouver, Wash., Ellsworth (Vivian) Kirkelie, of Anaheim, Calif., and Allen (Peggy) Kirkelie, of Bowbells; and sister, Evelyn (Glen) Johnson, of Minot.
Funeral: Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home Chapel, Minot.
Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot.
Visitation: Friday, one hour prior to services, at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.
Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).
