Gene Elwood Opland, 88, Moorhead, MN, former longtime Des Lacs resident, died Sunday in a Fargo Hospital.

Gene was born November 20, 1930 in Vang Township of Ward County, North Dakota, the son of Emil and Olga (Larson) Opland. He was raised on the family farm in Vang Township and educated at country schools in that area before graduating from Des Lacs High School in 1949. He later attended Minot Business College for two years and was employed at Larson Brothers Construction, hauling gravel for rural roads in the area. He had also assisted with the family farming operation for a number of years.

Gene was united in marriage to Marlene Gail Waterman on June 1, 1957 in Minot. They made their home in Des Lacs for over 55 years, where along with raising their six children, he was employed with Northern States Power Company from April 13, 1958 until retiring in 1990. Gene and Marlene moved to Moorhead, MN in 2014. Marlene died February 24, 2017.

Gene was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Minot, where he served on a number of church boards, was active in the Sunday School program, AWANA program, church choir, and the 55-and-over XYZ group (coordinating numerous bus trips to destinations such as Medora, ND; Frostfire Theatre in Walhalla, ND; and Branson, MO) He also served on the Des Lacs School Board for 15 years, the Des Lacs City Council for a number of years and as Mayor of Des Lacs for 10 years.

Gene enjoyed farming, "tinkering" with old tractors and pickups he had purchased, as well as repairing small engines and anything else that needed "fixing." He loved traveling with Marlene (especially wintering in Florida near Disney World in their retired years), attending and later listening to broadcasts of DLB High School Athletics, doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles, and following his all-time favorite team, the New York Yankees.

His loving family includes: children: Grant (Cindy) Opland of Spokane, WA; Corene (Rod) Buxa of Anamoose, ND; Bonita (Kevin) Vinje of Maricopa, AZ; Diane (Daryl) Frueh of West Fargo, ND; Jane (Todd) Hickling of Culpeper, VA; and Betty (Randy) Davy of Moorhead, MN; 25 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren; sibling: Floyd (Jean) Opland, Enumclaw, WA; sister-in-law, Esther Opland; brother-in-law, Jule (Lucy) Waterman; a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Marlene; infant sister; brothers, Lyle and Lloyd; sister, Betty Aker; and a granddaughter, Breanna Frueh.

Celebration of Life Service: Friday, September 27, at 2:00 p.m. in First Baptist Church, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot
Visitation: At Gene's request, there will not be a reviewal, however, family and friends are invited to sign a memorial register on Thursday from 2:00-5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials are preferred to Child Evangelism Fund (CEF) or The Church XYZ Senior group.

Gene Opland Flowers