Opal Irene (Conover) Harding

Opal I. Harding, age 97, of Holstein, passed away on Wednesday, April 07, 2021 at the MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center of Sioux City.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. at the United Methodist Church of Holstein with the Rev. Doresa K. Collogan officiating.  Burial will be at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein.  A visitation will be held prior to the funeral service from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM at the church.  

On the family farm near Holstein, Iowa, homesteaded by her grandfather in 1879, a daughter, Opal Irene, was born to Cornelius Burroughs II “Neal” and Mable (Kurtz) Conover on January 18, 1924.  After completing the eighth grade in a rural one-room schoolhouse, Opal graduated from Holstein Public Schools, and VanSant School of Business in Omaha, Nebraska. She worked many years as a secretary in Omaha, Sioux City, and Colorado Springs.

On March 5, 1957 Opal married William G. Harding. In 1963 they moved from Sioux City to Colorado Springs. They owned and managed the Westerner Mobile Home Court until Bill’s death in 1966. Opal continued to operate their business for many years while simultaneously working as a secretary in the architectural industry.  In 2012 Opal moved back to Holstein to be closer to her family.

Opal was an active, lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. She looked forward to her daily crossword puzzles, enjoyed gardening, writing poetry, and saving articles and recipes from magazines and newspapers. In midlife Opal took lessons and dabbled in oil painting, learned to play the organ, and learned to snow ski. She helped with local volunteer projects and enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Europe.

Opal was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, stepson, Linden Harding; brothers and sisters-in-law, Kenneth and Inez Conover, Cornelius “Red” and Harriett Conover, Wayne “Charlie” Conover; nephews, Curtis and wife Mary Ann Conover and Cary Conover; nephew-in-law, Kennie Rohlk, and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She is survived by stepson, Joel (Candi) Harding, Larkspur, Colorado; step-grandchildren, Christine (Mark) Coffey, Christopher (Kalli) Harding, James (Jamie) Harding, and Jeremy (Heather) Harding; six great-grandchildren; niece, Janice Rohlk; nephews, Neal (Kitty) Conover, Dwight (Marilyn) Conover, Blake (Laurie) Conover, Kevin (Lana) Conover, Kim (Denise) Conover and their families; niece-in-law, Victoria Conover and her family; and sister-in-law, Gloria (Doc) Schmidt.

Opal was blessed with the love of her family and many close friends. Her friendship, generosity, and humor touched many lives.

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