Opal L. Bandy, age 91, of Brookings, died on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the United Living Community in Brookings. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at GracePoint Wesleyan Church in Brookings. Burial will be at rural Mina, South Dakota in the Richland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2014 also at GracePoint Wesleyan Church. Eidsness Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Opal Lucille Palmer was born on November 4, 1922 to Dan A. Palmer and Lillian M. (Hansen) Palmer at Mina, SD. She lived in the Mina area until 1933, when her family moved to Mansfield, SD. In 1940, Opal graduated from Central High School in Aberdeen, SD and continued her education at Northern State College, where she earned her teaching certificate. Opal returned to Mansfield where she taught at a rural school for two years. She then worked at Sears in Aberdeen for one year before entering the United States Navy. Opal faithfully served from 1944-1946. On June 1, 1946, she married Claude Bandy at Mina, SD. They moved to Huron, SD where they lived from 1946-1956. In 1956 Opal and Claude moved to Sioux City, IA where they resided until 1983. The Bandy's then moved to Flandreau, SD. Claude died on June 26, 1984. Opal moved to Brookings, SD in 1987 and lived there until the time of her death. Opal was a faithful member of the Wesleyan Church her whole life. She served in many positions at the church and was a member of the Wesleyan Women's International. Opal enjoyed attending the SDSU Wellness Center, reading, sewing, traveling, bowling and completing crossword puzzles. She is survived by her daughters, Cheryl Ficocello of Coon Rapids, MN and Laurel Bandy of Rancho Murieta, CA; sons,Ron (Marilyn) Bandy of Plano, TX and Rick Bandy of Ironton, MN; brothers, Lyle (Lois) Palmer of Mina, SD and Ivan Palmer of Brookings, SD; eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and numerous other relatives and friends. Opal was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sister Francis Palmer.