Esther Bernice Opland, 94, Stillwater, MN and formerly of Bottineau and Minot, died on Friday, October 2, 2009 in a Stillwater, MN nursing home.

Esther was born on January 24, 1915 on the family farm near Drady, ND to Andrew and Sena (Larson) Eidahl. She was reared on the family farm and attended rural schools in that area.

Esther married Arnold Opland on March 24, 1935 in Minot. They made their home at various places in North Dakota where Arnold was employed as a school teacher. Esther was proud to be a fulltime wife, mother to her four boys and a homemaker. Following Arnold's retirement she and Arnold moved to Minnesota to be nearer their sons. Arnold died in August of 1995.

Esther especially enjoyed gardening but her passion was her family.

Esther's loving family includes her sons: Dennis (Kathy) Opland, Jerome (Jane) Opland, Wayne (Phung) Opland and David (Mary) Opland; eleven grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings: Willard Peterson, Mabel Albertson, Victor Peterson, Alice Opland and Berton Eidahl.

Funeral Service: Friday, October 9, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. in Rose Valley Lutheran Church - rural Des Lacs.
Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Memorials are preferred to the Rose Valley Cemetery Endowment
Visitation: One hour prior to the funeral service in the church.