Opal E. Deckwa, age 89, died suddenly at Whidbey General Hospital on June 18, 2007. Opal was born on May 22, 1918 in Wilton, North Dakota to Harry I. and Zelda F. (Miner) Barker.
As a young girl, Opal and her family lived in an apartment attached to the train station in Wilton. The station served as a community center with dances every Saturday night. Opal attended a very small school in North Dakota, where she was one of three students in her graduating class.
Opal's family struggled with the Great Depression and Opal's father traveled to Washington State in search of work. He found a job in the orchards of Selah. He returned to North Dakota and sold everything, loaded his family and their belongings into the family pickup and Opal and her sister Hazel rode in the bed of the truck to Washington. They made Selah, Washington their new home. Opal found work as a housekeeper for a doctor. She also enjoyed an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables that she had never seen in North Dakota.
Opal met a young worker from Oak Harbor, Everett L. "Bub" Deckwa, who had traveled to Selah to find work. She fell in love with "Bub" and they traveled to Oak Harbor, where they were married on June 8, 1940.
Opal worked for the Geedunk snack bar at the Navy Commissary at NAS Whidbey. Her next job was a pickup and delivery person for Island Cleaners at Midway and Pioneer Way. She worked for three different owners during her time at the cleaners. Because of job, she soon became a familiar face around Oak Harbor and the Naval Air Station
Opal left her laundry route and worked for General Telephone Company for a time. She then found her ideal employment. She worked for Scandia Health Foods and when they were bought out by Valley Pharmacy, selling naturopathic products at the Mt. Vernon store. She drove to and from Mt. Vernon three days a week until 2000.
Opal and Bub were survivors. They endured the Great Depression. They fed their family from Opal's garden and Bub's hunting trips. In 1961, their home was completely destroyed in a house fire. They had been great helpers to their neighbors over the years and their friends gathered together and helped them to completely rebuild the Deckwa home.
Opal was a woman with an incredibly positive attitude. She could see the good in everything. She was so very appreciative of anything and everything. She loved her family. She also had a strong affection for animals. Her home was located at an intersection and people were constantly dumping animals near her home. She never failed to take in strays and find new homes for them.
Opal also knew how to provide for her family. She loved to cook and can foods. She enjoyed laughing and she enjoyed good jokes. She loved to read the comics in the paper. She had a passion for rummage sales and thrift shops. She and Bub enjoyed going to the Sheriff's Posse dances wherever the location.
Opal is survived by two daughters and their husbands: Cherita and Al Koetje and Renee and Dennis Faber, one granddaughter Cory Russell and husband Bill and two great grandchildren Jason Russell and Olivia Russell, all of Oak Harbor. Her parents preceded her in death, along with her husband Everett "Bub" Deckwa and one sister Hazel Chastain.
Graveside services for Opal Deckwa will be held at 1:00pm Friday, June 22, 2007 at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Memorial services will follow at Burley Funeral Chapel at 2:00pm with Pastor Bryan Boersma and student Pastor Matt Waterstone officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be at Burley Funeral Chapel on Thursday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.
As a young girl, Opal and her family lived in an apartment attached to the train station in Wilton. The station served as a community center with dances every Saturday night. Opal attended a very small school in North Dakota, where she was one of three students in her graduating class.
Opal's family struggled with the Great Depression and Opal's father traveled to Washington State in search of work. He found a job in the orchards of Selah. He returned to North Dakota and sold everything, loaded his family and their belongings into the family pickup and Opal and her sister Hazel rode in the bed of the truck to Washington. They made Selah, Washington their new home. Opal found work as a housekeeper for a doctor. She also enjoyed an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables that she had never seen in North Dakota.
Opal met a young worker from Oak Harbor, Everett L. "Bub" Deckwa, who had traveled to Selah to find work. She fell in love with "Bub" and they traveled to Oak Harbor, where they were married on June 8, 1940.
Opal worked for the Geedunk snack bar at the Navy Commissary at NAS Whidbey. Her next job was a pickup and delivery person for Island Cleaners at Midway and Pioneer Way. She worked for three different owners during her time at the cleaners. Because of job, she soon became a familiar face around Oak Harbor and the Naval Air Station
Opal left her laundry route and worked for General Telephone Company for a time. She then found her ideal employment. She worked for Scandia Health Foods and when they were bought out by Valley Pharmacy, selling naturopathic products at the Mt. Vernon store. She drove to and from Mt. Vernon three days a week until 2000.
Opal and Bub were survivors. They endured the Great Depression. They fed their family from Opal's garden and Bub's hunting trips. In 1961, their home was completely destroyed in a house fire. They had been great helpers to their neighbors over the years and their friends gathered together and helped them to completely rebuild the Deckwa home.
Opal was a woman with an incredibly positive attitude. She could see the good in everything. She was so very appreciative of anything and everything. She loved her family. She also had a strong affection for animals. Her home was located at an intersection and people were constantly dumping animals near her home. She never failed to take in strays and find new homes for them.
Opal also knew how to provide for her family. She loved to cook and can foods. She enjoyed laughing and she enjoyed good jokes. She loved to read the comics in the paper. She had a passion for rummage sales and thrift shops. She and Bub enjoyed going to the Sheriff's Posse dances wherever the location.
Opal is survived by two daughters and their husbands: Cherita and Al Koetje and Renee and Dennis Faber, one granddaughter Cory Russell and husband Bill and two great grandchildren Jason Russell and Olivia Russell, all of Oak Harbor. Her parents preceded her in death, along with her husband Everett "Bub" Deckwa and one sister Hazel Chastain.
Graveside services for Opal Deckwa will be held at 1:00pm Friday, June 22, 2007 at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Memorial services will follow at Burley Funeral Chapel at 2:00pm with Pastor Bryan Boersma and student Pastor Matt Waterstone officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be at Burley Funeral Chapel on Thursday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.
Opal E. Deckwa, age 89, died suddenly at Whidbey General Hospital on June 18, 2007. Opal was born on May 22, 1918 in Wilton, North Dakota to Harry I. and Zelda F. (Miner) Barker.
As a young girl, Opal and her family lived in an apartment attached to the train station in Wilton. The station served as a community center with dances every Saturday night. Opal attended a very small school in North Dakota, where she was one of three students in her graduating class.
Opal's family struggled with the Great Depression and Opal's father traveled to Washington State in search of work. He found a job in the orchards of Selah. He returned to North Dakota and sold everything, loaded his family and their belongings into the family pickup and Opal and her sister Hazel rode in the bed of the truck to Washington. They made Selah, Washington their new home. Opal found work as a housekeeper for a doctor. She also enjoyed an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables that she had never seen in North Dakota.
Opal met a young worker from Oak Harbor, Everett L. "Bub" Deckwa, who had traveled to Selah to find work. She fell in love with "Bub" and they traveled to Oak Harbor, where they were married on June 8, 1940.
Opal worked for the Geedunk snack bar at the Navy Commissary at NAS Whidbey. Her next job was a pickup and delivery person for Island Cleaners at Midway and Pioneer Way. She worked for three different owners during her time at the cleaners. Because of job, she soon became a familiar face around Oak Harbor and the Naval Air Station
Opal left her laundry route and worked for General Telephone Company for a time. She then found her ideal employment. She worked for Scandia Health Foods and when they were bought out by Valley Pharmacy, selling naturopathic products at the Mt. Vernon store. She drove to and from Mt. Vernon three days a week until 2000.
Opal and Bub were survivors. They endured the Great Depression. They fed their family from Opal's garden and Bub's hunting trips. In 1961, their home was completely destroyed in a house fire. They had been great helpers to their neighbors over the years and their friends gathered together and helped them to completely rebuild the Deckwa home.
Opal was a woman with an incredibly positive attitude. She could see the good in everything. She was so very appreciative of anything and everything. She loved her family. She also had a strong affection for animals. Her home was located at an intersection and people were constantly dumping animals near her home. She never failed to take in strays and find new homes for them.
Opal also knew how to provide for her family. She loved to cook and can foods. She enjoyed laughing and she enjoyed good jokes. She loved to read the comics in the paper. She had a passion for rummage sales and thrift shops. She and Bub enjoyed going to the Sheriff's Posse dances wherever the location.
Opal is survived by two daughters and their husbands: Cherita and Al Koetje and Renee and Dennis Faber, one granddaughter Cory Russell and husband Bill and two great grandchildren Jason Russell and Olivia Russell, all of Oak Harbor. Her parents preceded her in death, along with her husband Everett "Bub" Deckwa and one sister Hazel Chastain.
Graveside services for Opal Deckwa will be held at 1:00pm Friday, June 22, 2007 at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Memorial services will follow at Burley Funeral Chapel at 2:00pm with Pastor Bryan Boersma and student Pastor Matt Waterstone officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be at Burley Funeral Chapel on Thursday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.
As a young girl, Opal and her family lived in an apartment attached to the train station in Wilton. The station served as a community center with dances every Saturday night. Opal attended a very small school in North Dakota, where she was one of three students in her graduating class.
Opal's family struggled with the Great Depression and Opal's father traveled to Washington State in search of work. He found a job in the orchards of Selah. He returned to North Dakota and sold everything, loaded his family and their belongings into the family pickup and Opal and her sister Hazel rode in the bed of the truck to Washington. They made Selah, Washington their new home. Opal found work as a housekeeper for a doctor. She also enjoyed an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables that she had never seen in North Dakota.
Opal met a young worker from Oak Harbor, Everett L. "Bub" Deckwa, who had traveled to Selah to find work. She fell in love with "Bub" and they traveled to Oak Harbor, where they were married on June 8, 1940.
Opal worked for the Geedunk snack bar at the Navy Commissary at NAS Whidbey. Her next job was a pickup and delivery person for Island Cleaners at Midway and Pioneer Way. She worked for three different owners during her time at the cleaners. Because of job, she soon became a familiar face around Oak Harbor and the Naval Air Station
Opal left her laundry route and worked for General Telephone Company for a time. She then found her ideal employment. She worked for Scandia Health Foods and when they were bought out by Valley Pharmacy, selling naturopathic products at the Mt. Vernon store. She drove to and from Mt. Vernon three days a week until 2000.
Opal and Bub were survivors. They endured the Great Depression. They fed their family from Opal's garden and Bub's hunting trips. In 1961, their home was completely destroyed in a house fire. They had been great helpers to their neighbors over the years and their friends gathered together and helped them to completely rebuild the Deckwa home.
Opal was a woman with an incredibly positive attitude. She could see the good in everything. She was so very appreciative of anything and everything. She loved her family. She also had a strong affection for animals. Her home was located at an intersection and people were constantly dumping animals near her home. She never failed to take in strays and find new homes for them.
Opal also knew how to provide for her family. She loved to cook and can foods. She enjoyed laughing and she enjoyed good jokes. She loved to read the comics in the paper. She had a passion for rummage sales and thrift shops. She and Bub enjoyed going to the Sheriff's Posse dances wherever the location.
Opal is survived by two daughters and their husbands: Cherita and Al Koetje and Renee and Dennis Faber, one granddaughter Cory Russell and husband Bill and two great grandchildren Jason Russell and Olivia Russell, all of Oak Harbor. Her parents preceded her in death, along with her husband Everett "Bub" Deckwa and one sister Hazel Chastain.
Graveside services for Opal Deckwa will be held at 1:00pm Friday, June 22, 2007 at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Memorial services will follow at Burley Funeral Chapel at 2:00pm with Pastor Bryan Boersma and student Pastor Matt Waterstone officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be at Burley Funeral Chapel on Thursday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.
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