Obituary for Heather Lee Opdahl
Heather Lee Opdahl, age 50, of Hazel, SD, passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2023 at her home surrounded by loved ones.
Visitation will be from 2-6 pm, Sunday, January 15, 2023 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
Funeral services will be at 11 am, Monday, January 16, 2023 at New Hope Lutheran Church in Hayti, SD with Reverend Randy Eisenbeisz officiating.
Burial will be at New Hope Cemetery, Rural Hayti, SD.
Pallbearers will be Nathan Thyen, Joel Opdahl, Austin Opdahl, Matt Anderson, Damon Opdahl and Steven Paulson.
Honorary Pallbearers will be her fellow coworkers at Hy-Vee Pharmacy.
Memorials may be given to Codington County Cares, C/O 818 S. Broadway, Watertown, SD 57201 or Pink Ladies - Watertown Group.
Heather Lee Opdahl was born to Donald and Fae (Van Stone) Dayton on October 18, 1972 in Aberdeen, SD. She grew up in Stratford where she attended grade school, graduating from Warner High School. She then attended Northern State College in Aberdeen for two years, and six years at SDSU in Brookings where she obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1998. While in college Heather met Troy Opdahl at the South Dakota State Fair where they both showed dairy cattle. On June 20, 1992, she married Troy at St. Michaels Church in Clark, SD. The couple lived on an acreage near Hayti, SD for 14 years.
While living in this home, the couple welcomed their first child on October 23, 2001, Taryn Lee Opdahl. In 2006 they purchased an acreage in the rural Hazel/Thomas area where they have lived ever since. Also in 2006, they welcomed their second child who was also born on October 23, Talayna Marie Opdahl.
After college Heather was employed for one year at the Huron regional Hospital as a Pharmacist. She then began a 10 year career as a Pharmacist at Econo. After Econo closed their doors, she got a job in the Pharmacy at Hy-Vee where she remained until she could no longer work anymore. Heather took great pride in her job and loved being able to help others. Through her job she met so many customers and coworkers and built great friendships that will never be forgotten.
Heather has been a member of New Hope Lutheran Church in rural Hayti, SD for the last 27 years where she held various positions and played the organ and piano. She loved to play hymns for her family and some of her favorites were Amazing Grace, In the Garden, and Blessed Assurance. She also loved to play music written by Lorie Line.
Something Heather was passionate about was helping people and being a 4-H parent. She was very adamant about 4-H projects and was always coming up with different ideas for the girls. You could often here her say “This would make a good 4-H project!” with a following eye roll from the girls. She enjoyed gardening, mowing, hunting, and supporting the girls in all their sports activities.
Heather fought a long battle with stage 4 colorectal cancer. During this time, she found a love of going on walks with her daughters, working, and going to sports activities. Throughout her journey she leaned on her faith, friends, and family to keep her going. Her battle was not lost, rather she won, for now she is free of pain and suffering.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Troy Opdahl of Hazel, SD; her children, Taryn Opdahl and Talayna Opdahl of Hazel, SD; her mother, Fae Dayton of Stratford, SD; her father and mother-in-law, Gregory and Dixie Opdahl of Hayti, SD; her siblings, Barbara (James) Hoops of Ferney, SD, Becky (Daniel) Thyen of Waverly, SD, Stacey (Joel) Frink of Aberdeen, SD, Steven (Julie) Dayton and Shad (Darcy) Wood of Stratford, SD, and Kara (Andy) Paulson of Groton, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father Don Dayton, two brothers Gregory and Gordon Dayton, her paternal grandparents Arlo and Jeanette Dayton, and her maternal grandparents Fred and LaVanch Van Stone.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.
Visitation will be from 2-6 pm, Sunday, January 15, 2023 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
Funeral services will be at 11 am, Monday, January 16, 2023 at New Hope Lutheran Church in Hayti, SD with Reverend Randy Eisenbeisz officiating.
Burial will be at New Hope Cemetery, Rural Hayti, SD.
Pallbearers will be Nathan Thyen, Joel Opdahl, Austin Opdahl, Matt Anderson, Damon Opdahl and Steven Paulson.
Honorary Pallbearers will be her fellow coworkers at Hy-Vee Pharmacy.
Memorials may be given to Codington County Cares, C/O 818 S. Broadway, Watertown, SD 57201 or Pink Ladies - Watertown Group.
Heather Lee Opdahl was born to Donald and Fae (Van Stone) Dayton on October 18, 1972 in Aberdeen, SD. She grew up in Stratford where she attended grade school, graduating from Warner High School. She then attended Northern State College in Aberdeen for two years, and six years at SDSU in Brookings where she obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1998. While in college Heather met Troy Opdahl at the South Dakota State Fair where they both showed dairy cattle. On June 20, 1992, she married Troy at St. Michaels Church in Clark, SD. The couple lived on an acreage near Hayti, SD for 14 years.
While living in this home, the couple welcomed their first child on October 23, 2001, Taryn Lee Opdahl. In 2006 they purchased an acreage in the rural Hazel/Thomas area where they have lived ever since. Also in 2006, they welcomed their second child who was also born on October 23, Talayna Marie Opdahl.
After college Heather was employed for one year at the Huron regional Hospital as a Pharmacist. She then began a 10 year career as a Pharmacist at Econo. After Econo closed their doors, she got a job in the Pharmacy at Hy-Vee where she remained until she could no longer work anymore. Heather took great pride in her job and loved being able to help others. Through her job she met so many customers and coworkers and built great friendships that will never be forgotten.
Heather has been a member of New Hope Lutheran Church in rural Hayti, SD for the last 27 years where she held various positions and played the organ and piano. She loved to play hymns for her family and some of her favorites were Amazing Grace, In the Garden, and Blessed Assurance. She also loved to play music written by Lorie Line.
Something Heather was passionate about was helping people and being a 4-H parent. She was very adamant about 4-H projects and was always coming up with different ideas for the girls. You could often here her say “This would make a good 4-H project!” with a following eye roll from the girls. She enjoyed gardening, mowing, hunting, and supporting the girls in all their sports activities.
Heather fought a long battle with stage 4 colorectal cancer. During this time, she found a love of going on walks with her daughters, working, and going to sports activities. Throughout her journey she leaned on her faith, friends, and family to keep her going. Her battle was not lost, rather she won, for now she is free of pain and suffering.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Troy Opdahl of Hazel, SD; her children, Taryn Opdahl and Talayna Opdahl of Hazel, SD; her mother, Fae Dayton of Stratford, SD; her father and mother-in-law, Gregory and Dixie Opdahl of Hayti, SD; her siblings, Barbara (James) Hoops of Ferney, SD, Becky (Daniel) Thyen of Waverly, SD, Stacey (Joel) Frink of Aberdeen, SD, Steven (Julie) Dayton and Shad (Darcy) Wood of Stratford, SD, and Kara (Andy) Paulson of Groton, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father Don Dayton, two brothers Gregory and Gordon Dayton, her paternal grandparents Arlo and Jeanette Dayton, and her maternal grandparents Fred and LaVanch Van Stone.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.