Opal Nelson

Opal Edith (Ritland) Nelson, 94, formerly of Saint Anthony, Iowa, passed away Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the Hubbard Care Center in Hubbard, surrounded by her loving family.
A visitation will be held on Friday, October 31, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church in McCallsburg. Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church with Pastor Staci Winborn officiating. A burial will follow at the Story Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Ames.
Opal was born at home in rural Hubbard, Iowa, on December 13, 1930, the daughter of Oscar and Alma (Mork) Ritland. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Garden City. Opal attended rural country school and graduated as Valedictorian of her class at Radcliffe High School in 1948. She took Normal Training in high school and completed her training to become a teacher in the summer of 1948 at Central College in Pella. For four years, she taught kindergarten through eighth grade in rural one-room schools in Garden City and Robertson, Iowa. While she taught in Garden City, she also kept house, cooked, and lived with her then bachelor brother, Floyd Ritland. Floyd remembers her as being a good sister that helped him during his bachelor days.
Her future husband, Raymond Loyd Nelson was serving in the army during the Korean Conflict, and on July 26, 1952, he came home to marry Opal Ritland in Nevada, Iowa. In 1955, the couple moved to rural Nevada, where Raymond began farming with his brother, August Nelson. After several years of farming near Nevada, they spent 5 years farming near Radcliffe and 3 years farming in the rural Aplington area. They purchased their present farm near Saint Anthony in 1965, where they raised their family and lived for many decades. During the last few years, Opal enjoyed an apartment at the Regency in Nevada and assisted living at Timberland Village in Story City. In 2022, she moved to the Hubbard Care Center.
After Opal married, she became a busy housewife raising 4 children and helping on the farm. She had a large garden, and hot summer days were spent canning vegetables. There were eggs to gather and chickens to butcher. There were always cows, pigs, chickens, dogs, and ponies to feed and water. On cold spring days, newborn pigs were sometimes placed in a box in the kitchen to be warmed by the stove. Mid-mornings often included putting on the coffeepot and setting out home-baked cookies, cake, or pie for visiting neighbors or relatives who gathered to catch up on farm news and local events. Opal was known for her excellent kringla and apple pie made from the many apple trees on their farm. She also enjoyed sharing her extra apples and produce with others. During harvest season, she was often seen helping bring in crops or feeding hired help. For many years, Opal and Raymond operated Saint Anthony Grain, and she helped manage the business.
Sundays were church days, attending Bethany Lutheran Church in McCallsburg, a sister church to Zion Lutheran, which she attended as a child. As she grew older, she found much comfort in the Bible, devotionals, and visits from her pastor.
Opal loved spending time with her family. For several years, Opal and Raymond spent February in the Phoenix area with her daughter Rita and son-in-law, Daryl. She and Raymond loved visiting Illinois to see her daughter, Lola, Chuck, and their family. They attended Lola's children's activities and sometimes added a quick fishing trip with Chuck. In Iowa, there were many family gatherings to celebrate birthdays and holidays with the families of Loyd and Ruth. She loved watching her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren grow up.
Opal and Raymond were very involved in the National Indianhead Association, an army veterans' group, and traveled to many local and national functions.
Throughout her life, Opal made a special point of visiting elderly and sick relatives. There was always a weekly trip to Nevada to buy groceries and visit her mother-in-law, Anna Nelson. She also made sure to visit her own mother, Alma Ritland, as well as many ill and older friends and family members. Opal had a keen memory for family genealogy. In her later years, she and her brother, Floyd, would reminisce about past days. They both could recite many family history facts. Opal was the last Nelson and Mosebach of her generation. Armed with her memory and extensive Rolodex, she was the glue that maintained contact with all family members.
Her loving spirit will be greatly missed by her family and those who knew her.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children: Lola Newgard of Mt. Zion, IL, Loyd (Diane) Nelson of Marshalltown, IA, Ruth (Doug) Halvorsen of New Providence, IA, and son-in-law Daryl Dudley of Roswell, NM. Nine grandchildren: Eric Newgard, Alison (Jon Mulhausen) Newgard, Kyle (Courtney) Newgard, Bryce Nelson, Amber Nelson, Breanne (Tyler) Maddick, (Ashley) Halvorsen, Betsy (Levi) Harms, and Bart (Jackie) Halvorsen. Also, nineteen grandchildren: Luke and Mark Mulhausen, August and Corbin Newgard, Kennedy Warnell, Avery and Caden Maddick, Brandt, Alivia, Luke, and Georgie Halvorsen, Alex, Cody, and Jace Harms, and Marie, Barrett, Jack, Jake, and Blaine Halvorsen. Surviving siblings are her brother, Floyd Ritland, and sister-in-law, Marjorie Ritland.
In death, Opal rejoins her parents, husband, daughter Rita Dudley, son-in-law Charles Newgard, grandson Brett Halvorsen, and many brothers and sisters.,
The family would like to thank the staff at Hubbard Care Center for their help throughout the last three years.
Instead of flowers, donations may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church in McCallsburg, Iowa, or to your choice.