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(Gerry), age 86, Jamestown, North Dakota, formerly of Litchville, North Dakota, died peacefully at home on September 5, 2015. Gerry was born on November 20, 1928 to Iver and Hilda (Lehman) Opdahl and raised in rural Litchville, ND.  He graduated from Litchville High School, served in the U.S. Army and spent the majority of his adult life living and working in Litchville. Gerry married Lois B. Gudmestad on June 22, 1951 in the First Lutheran Church in Litchville.  Together they raised a family of six children.

He loved to work.  He was a skilled tinkerer, dabbling in mechanics, carpentry, plumbing, and electrical tasks.  He worked at C.H. Carpenter Lumber Company and owned the Opdahl Café in Litchville.  For over 25 years, Gerry was a fixture at the school in Litchville, working as a custodian and bus driver.  Gerry was treasurer and a faithful trustee of First Lutheran Church for many years.  Upon retirement, he enjoyed his convertible, bowling, cutting firewood, coffee sessions at the café and Bumper to Bumper and numerous projects in his shop.

He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings, including Isabelle, Henry, Ingulf, Alfred, Clarence, Elmer, Muriel, Lyle, Donald and their spouses. He is survived by his wife, their six children, Christine Opdahl of Bismarck, Michael (Diane) of Larimore, Brian (Sharon) of Grand Forks, Gary of Hastings, David (Paulette) of Litchville, and Lisa Baeth of Devils Lake as well as 16 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

The funeral service will be 11 am Saturday, September 12, at First Lutheran Church, Litchville, with Pastor Marsha Hegna officiating.  Burial will be in Bethlehem Cemetery, rural Litchville.  Visitation will be 5-7 pm Friday at the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City.  Visitation will continue one hour before the service at the church.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City.  An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com.