OPAL HARRISON obituary

RUDYARD - Opal Claire (Wolery) Harrison, 84, died Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004, at the Liberty County Nursing Home.

A funeral service was conducted by her nephew, the Rev. Dale Wolery, at 3 p.m. Sunday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rudyard. A reception followed at the church. A family graveside service was scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the Rudyard Cemetery.

Opal was born at home on a farm near Hill on March 13, 1920, to Guy Clarence Wolery and Blanche Lulu Wilson. The Wolery family moved to Deer Park, Wash., when Opal was a child, so she received her early schooling there. They came back to Montana in 1932, so she finished her formal education at the Grassy Butte School north of Inverness. In the few years that followed, she worked as a housekeeper for the Hughes family.

Opal married Norris W. Harrison on March 30, 1939, at Havre. They lived on his farm north of Joplin until 1955, when they moved to Rudyard. They retired from farming in 1973. After 50 years of marriage, Norris died in 1989. Opal continued to live in the Rudyard community. During the past four years, she developed various health problems, so she received extended care at the medical facility in Chester. In December of 2003, Opal became a permanent resident of the Liberty County Nursing Home.

Opal had been active at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rudyard. She loved her life as homemaker & mother. In addition to raising six children of their own, the Harrison's also cared for 13 foster-children over the years.

Her hobbies included crocheting, quilting and knitting. She also enjoyed canning and baking. She will be remembered for her fresh breads and cinnamon rolls. In her earlier years, she enjoyed gardening, camping and playing pinochle with family and friends. In more recent years, she liked to play cribbage with her son, Robert. During her quiet time at home, she loved to listen to the radio or play her favorite musical tapes.

Survivors include her sons, Donald (Jean) Harrison of Great Falls and Robert and Lyle Harrison, both of Rudyard; daughters, Shirley (Donald) Rudolph of Chester, Elaine (Willis) Hodges of Cordes Lakes, Ariz., and Jean Stone of Chester; special foster-child, Frank First-Raised of Fort Belknap; brothers, Elvyn (Eileen) Wolery of Chester, Wayne (Betty) Wolery of Inverness and Lloyd (Fern) Wolery of Joplin; sister-in-law, Mary Packard of Chester; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews & nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Royal and Olyn Wolery; a granddaughter; and a great-grandson.

Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.