Opal Thorpe

OPAL D. THORPE Opal, 98, born in Champion Nebraska, and 8th grade graduate from Imperial NE and homeowner in Sidney for 48 years passed away early March 18, 2015 at Lemay Avenue Health and Rehab in Fort Collins, CO. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, March 24th in the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Monday from 1-7:00 P.M. and Tuesday morning prior to services. Memorial contributions may be made in Opal’s name to the donor’s choice. You may view Opal’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Opal’s care and funeral arrangements. Opal, 98, born in Champion Nebraska, and 8th grade graduate from Imperial Nebraska and homeowner in Sidney for 48 years passed away early March 18, 2015 at Lemay Avenue Health and Rehab in Fort Collins, Co. She was confirmed in the Lutheran Church and married Wilbur E. Thorpe on June 19, 1936 at the Lutheran Church on 10th street in Sidney. They moved to Ordville when the Sioux Army Depot opened up and in 1952 purchased a home in Sidney. Ernie worked at the base until it closed and chose to take early retirement so they could remain in Sidney. “Ernie” passed away in 1995. Opal worked at several jobs for short periods of time but her true love was to be a homemaker. Family was always important to her. She loved to sew making clothes for her family, quilts and braiding rugs. She also loved cooking for her family and believed there was “always room for one more at the table”. Her pies were always very popular and her freezer and food pantry were always full. Opal and her husband spent endless Saturdays looking for treasures at garage sales and auctions. They also enjoyed fishing trips and traveling in the states west of the Mississippi graduating from “camping” in their car to a motor home. In 2000 Opal moved to Loveland Colorado to be closer to her youngest daughter, Roberta Thorpe. Until Opal fell and broke her hip they were able to enjoy traveling from coast to coast and across western Canada in Roberta’s motor home. Opal is survived by her youngest brother Dean Bentzinger of Omaha, Nebraska. She was preceded in death by her parents, younger brother Lavern Benzinger, younger sister Leta (Bentzinger) Wilcox, her husband Wilbur Thorpe and her oldest daughter Anna Louise (Thorpe) Morgan. She is also survived by her twins Roberta and Robert Thorpe, (8) grandchildren, and (12) great-grand-children and (12) great-great-grandchildren.