Opal Sprague, 74

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Memorial services for Opal Sprague, 74, of Burt, Iowa, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. The Rev. Jeff Laeger-Hagemeister will officiate. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service.
Opal died on Friday, May 8, 2009, at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona, Iowa.
Opal Fern Sprague was born on Oct. 17, 1934, in Willow Springs, Mo., the daughter of Fern and John Essink. She grew up and went to school in South Dakota. Following high school, Opal went to school to become a teacher. She met her husband, Stanley Sprague, while in school and they taught in various small schools in South Dakota. In 1971 Opal and Stanley moved to Austin, where they owned and operated the Norge Village Laundromat. In 1982, Opal went back to school at the votec to become a registered nurse. She worked as a nurse at the Austin Medical Center and later moved back to South Dakota where she continued working in nursing. Following her retirement, Opal moved to Albert Lea. She enjoyed spending time with friends, traveling, playing scrabble, reading, and especially spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchild.
Survivors include her children: Roger Sprague, Virgil Sprague and Russel (Lynn) Sprague; grandchildren: Dustin, Jennifer, Jessica, and Levi Sprague; great-grandson, James Sprague; sisters: Joann (Lavern) Ross, and Mary Hemminger; brother, John (Penny) Essink; special friend, Keith Hall; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Opal was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Stanley; her son, Orrin Sprague; and her brother-in-law, Cecil Hemminger.