Opal Iren Rohde

Opal Irene (Sandvik) Rohde, 92, Pettibone, ND, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at the Lyngblomsten Nursing Home in St. Paul, MN with her daughters by her side. Mrs. Rohde was born July 21, 1922 at the homestead home of her parents, Nellie and Ole Sandvik, in rural Gerber Township, ND. She grew up on a farm near Pettibone, graduating from Pettibone High School in 1940. She attended Valley City State College for one year following high school graduation. After the year of college, Mrs. Rohde taught elementary school in rural Tuttle, ND for one year. She boarded with the Solheim family and often talked of walking to school in the cold weather, starting the wood burning stove and only then being able to begin classes. It was probably during that winter that she developed her lifelong dislike of cold North Dakota winters. In 1942, Mrs. Rohde moved to San Francisco and worked as a secretary for General Engineering. This company was involved in creating specifications for the repair of battleships and as this was at the zenith of World War II, she often worked long hours typing lengthy, involved forms (all with carbon paper!). She often talked about the impact of the war in San Francisco with vivid memories of prisoners of war returning and the beginning of the United Nations after the victory. She returned to North Dakota in 1946 when she became engaged to Lorenz Rohde, also of Pettibone. She worked in Jamestown as a secretary at the airport until her marriage on February 1, 1947. In 1949, Mr. and Mrs. Rohde purchased the diversified farm near Pettibone where they lived the rest of their lives. They had four children, three daughters and one son. Mrs. Rohde was an involved community member. She was an active member of the Pettibone Lutheran Church. She was a 4-H Club leader for many years as well as a member of several Homemakers? Clubs. In addition, she was a strong supporter of all the activities of her children, driving kids to events, chaperoning when necessary and baking hundreds of pies for various fund raising lunches over the years. As the granddaughter of Moses Pruitt, an early pioneer with the NPL party, Mrs. Rohde remained true to her upbringing and was a life-long Democrat. Several times she was a delegate to the state Democratic convention; she attended the 1996 Inaugural of Bill Clinton in Washington, DC and was a guest at the 2004 National Democratic convention in Boston. Opal Rohde loved to travel and completed all her overseas travel after she was 70! She went to Australia, England, Norway, France, Italy, Canada, several Caribbean islands and traveled to Hawaii and Alaska. She enjoyed every trip and could always keep up when sightseeing. She was a frequent visitor to her daughters? homes in Minneapolis, Washington, DC and New York City. She was a full partner in the farming operation managing the dairy operation on her own during the last several years of its existence. She was an outstanding cook, skilled seamstress, committed bowler, dedicated pet owner and an enthusiastic flower gardener. She loved clothes and dressing stylishly and never met a speed limit she couldn?t ignore.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Rohde spent her winters in Sun City West, Arizona. She enjoyed this new community and was again involved with the church, the Red Hat Society, a bowling league, and the Sons of Norway. She reluctantly sold her home in 2011 when due to declining health she needed to move closer to her family. Mrs. Rohde is survived by her three daughters, Diann (New York, NY), Barbara (Washington, DC) and Susan (Minneapolis, MN) and her two animal children, Sabrina (cat) and Toby (dog). She was predeceased by her husband, Lorenz, her only son, Kirk, her brother James Sandvik and her two sisters, Jean Sandvik and Olive (Sandvik) Hill.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 13 at Woodworth Lutheran Church with burial at Pettibone Community Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Eddy Funeral Home in Jamestown and visiting hours will be on Friday, September 12 from 4:00 ? 7:00 PM.

On line guestbook: www.eddyfuneralhome.com