Louise Lena Ida Oppelt was born December 15, 1915, in Lyon County, Iowa, to William and Ella (Hamann) Wenzel. She died Thursday, August 10, 2017, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings at the age of 101. Funeral Services will be 10:30 A.M. Monday, August 14, 2017, at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Elkton with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Visitations will be from 5-7 P.M. Sunday, August 13, 2017, at Eidsness Funeral Chapel in Elkton.

Louise grew up in Iowa, where she attended school in Alvord. She graduated from Alvord High School in 1933.  Louise worked as a hired hand, a maid,  and baked pastries in Rock Rapids, Iowa.  She married Laurence Oppelt September 29, 1940, at Elkton Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church.   They lived on the Oppelt family farm near Elkton for 55 years.  Laurence passed away in 1994, and Louise moved into Elkton in 1996. She moved to Stoneybrook Assisted Living in Brookings in 2011 and to The Neighborhoods at Brookview in 2014.

Louise held various offices in Thimble Club, and was a member of Alton Extension Club for 40 years.  She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Ladies Aid and enjoyed crocheting, quilting, gardening, spending time with her family, and watching the Minnesota Twins and playing bingo.  Louise was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Alvord, Iowa.

Louise is survived by her children:  Ruth Christensen of Omaha, NE, Charles H. (Elva) Oppelt of Elkton, Betty Sween of Elkton, and Diane (Don) Severson of Glencoe, MN; 14 grandchildren and step-grandchildren;  30 great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren; 19 great-great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren; one great-great-great-step grandchild; sister, Ila Alford; brothers, Wayne (Jean) Wenzel, Roy (Karen) Wenzel, James (Linda) Wenzel; one brother-in-law, and four sisters-in-law.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Laurence; son-in-law, Dennis Sween; grandchildren, Lori Kisting, Lance Oppelt, and three in infancy; brothers, Wilbur, Lauren, Paul, and Alan; and sisters, Letha Jenks, Bernice Chancellor, and Caryl Turl.