The funeral service for Howard Oppegard, 97, Valley City, North Dakota will be 10:30 am, Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at Faith Lutheran Church, Valley City. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Howard passed away Wednesday, March 6, at St. Rose Care Center, LaMoure, North Dakota.
Howard Lorenzo Oppegard, age 97, passed away March 6, 2024, at St. Rose Care Center, LaMoure, North Dakota. Howard was born on December 3, 1926, on his grandmother's farm located in Dazey Township, Barnes County, North Dakota, to Laura (Madsven) Oppegard. Howard was baptized (1927) and confirmed (1940) into the Lutheran faith at Our Saviour’s, Dazey ND, and graduated from Dazey High School in 1945. After a short stint with the U.S. Army at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Washington, Howard graduated from Valley City State College.
Howard married Annamarie Watne in 1948. Over the years Howard lived a life of service as a high school English teacher, Lay Assistant at Bethany Lutheran Church Minot, a counselor at the North Dakota State Industrial School, Mandan; and the area supervisor for Lutheran Social Services. Howard was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Valley City.
In 1991 he married Carol (Olson) Toppen. Together they enjoyed 25 years of traveling to different places in the world. He always enjoyed a good dish of ice cream and the company of friends. Howard loved the country life, taking care of the land whether it be planting trees or gardening. He spent many hours working and fixing on his old tractors to keep them running.
Howard is survived by his wife Carol, 4 children: Ardelle (Dale) Lefor, Peoria, AZ; Dave (Anne) Oppegard, Sioux Falls, SD; Michael (Barb) Oppegard, Beach, ND; and Brady (Michelle) Oppegard, Mandan, ND; 10 grandchildren: Mark Oppegard, Scott Oppegard, Danielle Lefor, Shawn Lefor, Mitchell Lefor, Amber Nickerson, Nathan Oppegard, RaeLynn Davison, Joseph Oppegard, and Alyssa Oppegard. Howard is also survived by Carol’s children Randy (Sue) Toppen, Valley City and Stacey (Mark) Nielsen, Valley City.
Howard was preceded in death by his mother Laura, his father John Oppegard, son Jerome (Jerry) Oppegard and sister Mildred “Dolly” Stearns.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel. An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com