Opal Mildred (Augeson) Birhanzl

Opal Birhanzl, of Montevideo, died on Friday, June 28, 2002 at the Chippewa County - Montevideo Hospital at the age of 92.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 2, 2002 at 10:30 A.M. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church.  Rev. Thomas Hanson will officiate and interment will be at Terrace Lawn Memory Gardens.

Visitation will be held Monday afternoon and evening at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Opal Mildred (Augeson) Birhanzl was born August 9, 1909 in Spencer, IA the eldest daughter of Fred and Alice (Sunderland) Augeson.  She was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Montevideo.  She worked at Swift and Co. in Montevideo before she was married.  Opal was united in marriage with Edward Birhanzl May 26, 1936 in Watertown, SD.  They farmed in rural Montevideo for many years.  Edward died in 1975 and Opal moved into Montevideo in 1976.  She enjoyed fishing, gardening, crafts, and going places and doing things with family and friends.

She is survived by one son, Richard Birhanzl of Watson, MN; one daughter, Alice Holte of Willmar, MN; one son-in-law, Aaron Winters of Montevideo, MN; eight grandchildren: Cindy (Fred) Samora {whom she raised} of Montevideo, MN, Troy Birhanzl of Montevideo, MN, Steven Birhanzl of Montevideo, MN, Scott Winters of Watson, MN, Julie Martin of Palm Bay, FL, Jeff Winters of Belleview, FL, Allen (Shari) Winters of Mora, MN, and Tammy (Mike) Slowey of Montevideo, MN; eleven great-grandchildren: Jesse Mickels, Dustin Martin, Heather and Justin Winters, Reannia Winters, Michael, Cory, and Matthew Winters, Cortany Winters, and Daniel and Cassey Slowey; two brothers: Walter (Ida) Augeson of Montevideo, MN and Warren Augeson of Hector, MN; three sisters: Cleo (Donald) Myhre of Montevideo, MN, Violet Haff of Montevideo, MN, and Virginia (Amer) Boraas of Dawson, MN; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Edward in 1975; one daughter, Ginger Winters in 1982; three brothers: Wayne, Roger, and Harold Augeson; four sisters: Velma Augeson, Fern Lehman, Pearl Swenson, and Ruby Swenson; four sisters-in-law: Sarah Augeson, Florence Augeson, Florence Augeson, and Geraldine Augeson; and four brothers-in-law: James Lehman, Arthur Swenson, Maurice Swenson, and Stanley Haff.