Opal Bernice Browning

Opal Bernice Browning, 82, of Crystal, Minnesota, formerly of Mason City, passed away on September 29, 2005 at her residence, The Heather?s Assisted Living Manor. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 AM, Monday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 North Pennsylvania Avenue with Rev. James Grabitske of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Mason City, and the Rev. David Russow of the King of Grace Lutheran Church, Golden Valley, MN officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Major Erickson Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to the Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN or the Allina Hospice Foundation. Opal Bernice was born in Vinje, Iowa on July 17,1923 to Maynard & Jennie Maakestad. She was baptized on July 22, 1923 and confirmed on May 1, 1938 at Center Lutheran Church, Scarville, Iowa. Opal attended Leland High School, graduating in May 1942. After graduation she attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa where she earned her teaching degree. Her first teaching job was at Fertile School in Fertile, Iowa where she taught for 2 years. She then accepted a position at Belmond Elementary School in Belmond, Iowa, leaving after one year to be married. On June 21, 1947 Opal married Raymond Browning. Their marriage was blessed with two sons and one daughter. The family moved to Spirit Lake, Iowa in 1949 where Ray and his brother bought a plumbing business which Opal helped to manage until 1958. In 1958, the family moved to Forest City, Iowa when Ray began work for Plumb Supply of Mason City. They resided there until 1963 when Ray and the family moved to Mason City, where Opal was a substitute teacher. After Ray?s death in 1974, she accepted a full-time position at NIACC. She retired from NIACC in 1989 Opal enjoyed her retirement with golfing, playing Bridge and ?500?, traveling and gardening ? especially her roses. She later moved to Crystal, Minnesota to be close to her family and continued to enjoy family celebrations and visits. Opal is survived by sons Daniel and wife Linda of Minnetonka, MN; Timothy and wife Jane of Baxter, MN daughter Rebecca and husband Dr. Greg Lecy of Marshall, MN; ten grandchildren: Kathryn and husband Scott Roeber; Jacob Browning and wife Jennifer; Alexander Browning; Dr. Joseph Browning and wife Rana; Adam Browning; Ryan Browning; Ross Lecy; Andrew Lecy; Abigail Lecy; Kirstin Lecy; and three great-grandchildren: Gavin Browning, Scott Browning, and Harrison Browning; sister, Adoline and husband Dale Martinson of Radcliffe, Iowa; brother, Duane and wife Jean Maakested of Fairmont, MN; numerous nieces and nephews; and brother and sister-in-law, Eldon and Elvira Browning of Galt, California and sister-in-law, Pauline Browning-Blevins of the Seattle area. She was preceded in death by her parents, Maynard & Jennie Maakestad; loving husband Raymond Browning; brother Merle; sisters Mertie (Mrs. Arnold Tweeten), Olina (Mrs. Eldon Willis), and Irene (Mrs. Maynard Wacholz). Opal?s family would like to thank hospice nurse Lila Chryst and the Allina Hospice for their comfort and kindness and the staff at Heather?s Manor-Intrepid Assisted Living Facility for their exceptional care.

Visitation:
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on October 3, 2005 (map/driving directions) 12:00 PM to 12:00 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on September 30, 2005 (map/driving directions)

Service:
11:30 AM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on October 3, 2005 (map/driving directions)