Guri Opstad

1911 - 2009

MRS. GURI OPSTAD of Lethbridge, beloved wife of the late Mr. Arne Opstad, passed away peacefully at the Chinook Regional Hospital on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at the age of 97 years.

Guri was born in Varhaug, Norway on November 11, 1911. She attended Normal School in Calgary. In 1931 she married Arne Opstad. In her early 20's she suffered a severe deafness due to Meniere's Syndrome, which was really tragic, because she played the organ and violin ""by ear"".

Guri later turned to writing and spent many hours on her typewriter. In 1974 her ""Servants of the Sageland"" was published in the Free Press Weekly in ten installments. Later she had poems and writings published in various other papers and history books.

Guri was very proud of her beautiful garden of roses and showed them to all her visitors.

In July 2000, at the age of 88, she had her only trip back to Norway.

She loved to play cards. Then Scrabble, where she won many Gold Medals through the Senior Games - the latest in February, 2009.

She had a life membership with the Vasa Lodge, LSCO and Nord-Bridge Seniors.

Guri is survived by her son Albert (May) Opstad of Edmonton, two daughters; Clara Blust and Sylvia Nason, both of Lethbridge, fourteen grandchildren, five half-sisters; Mary, Helen, Josephine, Clara and Laura.

She was predeceased by her husband Arne, son Raymond, granddaughter Cheryl, half-brother Theodore, half-sisters; Esther, Agnes, and Alice; sons-in-law Carl, Maurice and Ray.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects between 7:00 and 9:00 PM on Friday, August 28, 2009 at MARTIN BROS. RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 - 4th Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at MARTIN BROS. RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, with Reverend Bert Faulkner, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to a charity of your choice.