Rudell Oppegard

Rudell Meryl Oppegard, 91, West Fargo, ND, died September 1, 2017, at the Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota. Rudell “Rudy” Oppegard was born April 11, 1926 in Henning, MN, to Rudolph and Pearle Marie Oppegard. Rudell was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Henning, MN. He grew up in Henning, MN and attended Henning High School graduating in 1944. Rudell enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 18, 1944 at the age of 18. His enlistment included a tour in Japan. He was honorably discharged on August 29, 1946. Rudell met the love of his life, Lorraine J. Goodroad while attending high school in Henning, MN where they were classmates. They were married on November 6, 1948 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Henning, MN. This year would have been 68 years. They had three children, two sons, Paul R. Oppegard and Claude D. Oppegard and one daughter, Jeanmarie P. Tamble. Paul lives in Fargo, ND and has one son, Matthew Oppegard; Claude lives in Glyndon, MN with his wife, Kari, and they have three children, Emily (Mike) Bormann, Ashley (Andy) Larson and Andrew Oppegard. Jeanmarie and her husband, Jim Tamble, live in Stillwater, Minnesota. Rudell and Lorraine bought the grocery store Henning, MN in 1948. They continued to run and manage the store for nine years. Rudell then took a position working for Carl Pohlad in Minneapolis at the Marquette Bank. He went on to graduate from the School of Banking in Wisconsin. He purchased the Twin Valley State Bank in Twin Valley, MN in 1960, where Lorraine and Rudell made their home for 19 years. In 1978 they moved to Fargo, ND. Rudell was President of the Clay County State Bank in Dilworth, MN. He also operated banking operations in Erskine, MN and Hinckley, MN, along with other business entities. Rudy was also involved in starting Viking Snowmobile manufacturing plant in Twin Valley, MN in the late 60’s with his best friend, Terry Magnuson from Henning High School. Rudell was an avid reader of history books and kept himself current while reading the Wall Street Journal and New York Times daily until a year ago, when his failing eyesight made it difficult. He enjoyed watching professional basketball and football games on television. He was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan and most Sundays we could find him in his favorite chair cheering the purple on. Rudell was the ultimate fan in the stands at sporting events. You could always find him at both his children and grandchildren’s events. He continued to deer hunt and share deer camp with his sons and grandchildren well into his later years. No one was more optimistic at finding the “big buck.” His favorite pastime was always being home and sharing his time with Lorraine. Rudy fearlessly fought with kidney disease since early 2015, and continued to be on kidney dialysis until his death. Rudell was preceded in death by his parents, Rudolph and Pearle Oppegard; two sisters, Victoria and Shirley Ann, his father and mother-in-law, Claude and Della Goodroad, brother-in-law, John Anderson and brother-in-law, Arden Nyberg. Rudell is survived by his wife, Lorraine, his sons, Paul and Claude (Kari) and daughter, Jeanmarie (Jim) Tamble; his four grandchildren, a sister, Gladys Anderson; a sister-in-law, Melva Jean Nyberg and many nieces and nephews.