Margaret Oppegard

Margaret C. Oppegard, age 96, of Faribault, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at her home following a sudden illness.    Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Church of St. Patrick, Shieldsville (7525 Dodd Road) in Shieldsville. Interment will be held at the St. Patrick Cemetery in Shieldsville.     Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory in Faribault on Tuesday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and for one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.    In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Bethlehem Academy High School in memory of Margaret.     Margaret Cecilia Dudley, the daughter of William & Mary Angella (Angie) (McBreen) Dudley, was born on June 20, 1915 in Shieldsville Township, Rice County, Minnesota. She attended Bethlehem Academy and graduated with the class of 1932. After graduating from high school, Margaret continued her education at Minnesota State University in Mankato, earning both her bachelor's and master's degree in elementary education. On May 28, 1937, Margaret was united in marriage to Walter V. Oppegard at the Church of St. Patrick in Shieldsville. He preceded her in death on January 16, 1996. Margaret was a school teacher for over forty five years in both the rural Shieldsville schools and the Faribault Public Schools. She was the last teacher in Minnesota to hold class in a rural school house. Margaret enjoyed music, which led her to playing both the organ and piano at the Church of St. Patrick in Shieldsville for over forty years. In 1995, Margaret was nominated to the "Good Neighbor" award from WCCO Radio. In 2000, she was also honored by the Archdiocesan of St. Paul Council of Catholic Women for a lifetime of voluntary work in her church.   She enjoyed bird watching, quilting, volunteering time at church and playing cards.      She is survived by her children, William (Catherine) Oppegard of Shieldsville, Saverna Chapman of St. Paul, David (Karen) Oppegard of Plymouth, Victoria Bishko of  Arizona, Ramona Liverseed of Faribault and Theresa Downs of Faribault; her sixteen grandchildren, twenty four great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; by her sister Angella (Lucian) Kroska of Rochester and by other relatives and friends.        She was preceded in death by her parents, a son Walter Vincent Oppegard, a daughter Margaret (Peggy) Schorn on October 24, 2010, her husband Walter Vernon, two wonderful sons-in-law, Greg Liverseed and Richard Downs, three sisters and two brothers.