Mrs. Opal Lillian Krause (Criddle)
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Opal's obituary
Opal Lillian Krause (Criddle) was born in 1938 in Bone Gap, IL.
Her Mother was Lillian R Keller (Criddle) of Warner, SD.
Her Father was Albert B Criddle of Warner, SD.
Opal's Father Albert courted 'Miss Criddle' across state lines while he
was still residing in the Minneapolis area.
Opal has 3 siblings: Warren, Earl, and Joyce (Jensen).
Opal's parents maintained a farm near Warner prior to
her parent's retirement to Warner.
In 1955 Opal was crowned 'Snow Queen' of Warner.
Soon Opal married Darrel William Krause.
Darrel was one of 4 brothers from a nearby farm.
They raised 2 children; Karene L Krause and Jeffrey D Krause.
The couple operated their own Photography Studio
under the Krause name in Redfield, SD.
It is believed they also managed a studio in Aberdeen, SD.
In the early 1960s Opal & Darrel managed the General Store
and Marina at the Black Hill's Pactola Lake (Pactola Pines).
The family lived in this store for just a season or two,
It was said their hired short-order Cook sometimes slept
in the attic accessible only through a small door in
their own bedroom :)
This store/cabin still serves the same purpose for
another managing family today.
Opal was employed as a trusted Head Bank Teller
with more than one bank in these early years.
In 1965 Opal & family moved briefly to Omaha, NB
for a business opportunity. However Opal's husband
ended up having to call the Cops on his own boss,
which meant the couple (w/ 2 small children)
had to flee Omaha in fear of retribution.
Somewhat both jobless and homeless, the couple's
honesty and sacrifice of safety seemed to be
soon rewarded with much better opportunities.
Opal & family subsequently moved to Lakewood, CA and
Fountain Valley, CA and then to the Minneapolis area
during the early 1970s.
Opal enjoyed Cooking, Theater-going, and occasionally
even home-cooking for Darrel's new bosses with
minimal complaint :)
Opal definitely had a 'Walter Mitty' side of her personality. She went motorcycling and snowmobiling and preferred to drive small sports cars rather than larger vehicles: 1970 Opal GT, 1974 Fiat X19, 1983 Datsun 280Z.
In the mid 1970s Opal & family moved again to
Southern California.
Opal co-founded and managed two separate Leather
goods stores in Laguna Beach, CA.
For a short time both stores operated simultaneously.
In the late 1970s The couple sold their home
in order to simplify/downsize aboard a 49' sailing ketch
based in Dana Point Harbor.
However the Ketch was destroyed while being shipped to the family,
so the family was unexpectedly homeless again while
awaiting a replacement in 1 years' time.
Opal & family used the unexpected extra time to
undertake projects in Groton, SD.
Opal's fearless organizational skills were always needed. The couple & children moved at least 13 times within a 20-yr span !
Opal & Darrel spent nearly 7 years living aboard
sailboats in the late 1970s through 1984.
Onshore again by 1985, the couple settled near
their children in Santa Maria, CA. Opal applied her fine singing voice in their local Choir. Opal's husband Darrel William Krause passed in 2003.
Opal has 2 Grandchildren (Jennifer McDuffie & John-Luke Schreiner) and 1 great-grandchild (Maddie).
Opal was known for her supportive nature and her
spontaneous giggle of note even in her last hours.
Memorial information will be made available to
family and friends as soon as practical.
If YOU have interesting stories to share regarding Opal, please forward to:
Thank you all so much for your kind words and appreciation for Opal.
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