Opal C. (Martinson) Larson

Opal Larson, 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 18, 2021.

Opal was born June 8, 1931, to Elsie (Nerenz) and Nels Martinson in Terry, Montana.  They moved to Creston, Montana where she went to school and graduated from Flathead High School in Kalispell.

She met and married James G. Larson of Shelby in 1953 and made Shelby her lifelong home.

She loved being a homemaker while raising their three daughters.  Then in 1974 she went to work at Larson Clothing Co along with her husband, Jim.  They retired in 1993.

After retirement Opal and Jim traveled; including cruises, trips abroad and visiting family and friends. She loved to watch her grandchildren participate in school activities.

Opal loved to quilt, cook, bake, golf and was dedicated to exercise and health. She was a wonderful Nana to her 6 grandchildren. She enjoyed spending time at their cabin on Whitefish Lake entertaining family and friends. “The cabin” was her “happy place”.

Opal was a member of the United Methodist Church and UMW (United Methodist Women). She was active in Shelby Jaycees, Shelby Soroptimist International and the Red Hats Club. She was a member of the Marias Valley Golf and Country Club where she holds a hole-in-one honor.

In 2020, during COVID while she was shuttered in her apartment, Opal took on the wonderful project of writing her life story.

She is survived by her daughters, Wendy (Bob) Elisha of Bozeman, Sandra (Paul) Steiner of Shelby; son-in-law, Bob (Gayle) Moon of Helena; granddaughters, Anna (Gavin) Latham of Hai Phong, Vietnam, Marie (Ryan) Nelson of Bozeman, Allison (Matt) Moon-Russo of Norfolk, VA, Ashley Moon of Helena; grandsons, Brian (Taylor) Chuckran of Colorado Springs, CO, Kevin Steiner of Kalispell; three great-granddaughters, one great-grandson; sisters, Anna Lucas of Polson and Della Dooley of Oklahoma City, OK; many nieces and nephews.

Opal was preceded in death by her husband, James G. Larson; daughter, Gayle Larson Moon; her mother and father; brothers, Elfred, Carl, Glen, Lloyd, Willis; and sister, Nora.

Services will be held at the United Methodist Church in Shelby, on Friday, September 24, 2020 at 11am.  A reception will be held at the church following the service. Lunch will be served.

Memorials may be sent to Shelby United Methodist Church, 235 4th Ave. South, Shelby, MT 59474 or Logan Assisted Living (formerly Marias Heritage Center), 111 2nd St. S, Shelby, MT  59474.